You Silly Little Dove!

We have all been called names at one point or another and it hurts. Whether in childhood or adulthood being called names hurts a lot and we have all been there.  Receiving harsh words and saying harsh words.

In Hosea 7:11, God calls Ephraim a Silly Little Dove.  If someone called you a "silly little dove" it probably wouldn't hurt your feelings.  Why did God call Ephraim a silly little dove?

Let's look at a dove, or pigeon, in our case.  Picture yourself at the park and the pigeons are scattered around in search of food.  You throw them some bread and what do they do?  At first they scatter.  Run away from the food that has been offered them.  Run away from the very thing that they have been searching for.  This is what Ephraim did.  Hosea 7:8 says that Ephraim has mixed himself with the nations.  Ephraim has turned away from the Lord and search for "food" elsewhere.  When they were in trouble they turned to Egypt for help (verse 11) and then they turned to Assyria for help.  They had forsaken the Lord who has promised to take care of them.

In verse 13-14 we read "Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.  And they do not cry to Me from their heart when they wail on their beds; for the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, they turn away from Me."

As Christians, don't we do the same thing? God has promised to never leave us or forsake us and He has promised to watch over us and provide our every need.

Hebrews 13:5a For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Just like Ephraim, who ran to Egypt  and Assyria for protection, we run to other things also.  We run to money to protect us and to fulfill  us, we run to material things, the latest gadget to fulfill our desires and wants, thinking they would make us happy only to find that the happiness of material things are fleeting.  We run to relationships and expect others to fulfill us and make us happy only to find that those people can and will disappoint us.

Jesus said in John 6:35 "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."  Jesus is the bread that is offered to us and He is the only Bread that will satisfy our deepest desires.  It is not money, prestige, relationships, material things that will give us ultimate happiness, it is Jesus and a relationship with Him.

Are you looking for love? Jesus has that to offer.  Are you looking for acceptance? Jesus has that to offer. Are you looking for deep friendship? Jesus has that to offer.  All you need if found in Him.

So, you silly little dove, when the world offers you crumbs, go to the Bread of Life and you shall never hunger again.