God the . . . Gardener?

By Matt

I read: Hosea 13-14

This is kind of weird, but I ended up finishing out Hosea, more specifically chapter 14, with another new image of God, another metaphor for our relationship with him. But this one isn't really a human-to-human relationship, we're talking a gardener-to-garden relationship. Check it out:

I will make a fresh start with Israel.
He'll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring.
He'll put down deep oak tree roots,
he'll become a forest of oaks!
He'll become splendid--like a giant sequoia,
his fragrance like a grove of cedars!
Those who live near him will be blessed by him,
be blessed and prosper like golden grain.

Catchy, eh? Now that might not seem to gardener-ish, but check out this from James 1: "In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life."

Catchier, eh? And here's the good news: when we let the gardener do the gardening, and not us plants, we will experience growth and bounty like we've never imagined. What's the bad news? Hope you like the smell of fertilizer . . . ;)