上帝是聖潔、公正的神，但祂也滿有慈愛和恩典。上帝必須管教人，但由於祂無盡的愛，至終祂必拯救並復興祂背道的百姓。「我必醫治他們背道的病，甘心愛他們，因為我的怒氣向他們轉消。」(14:4)何西阿帶著被妻子歌篾的可恥淫行刺傷的心，最後一次呼籲他的同胞悔改:『以色列啊，你要歸向耶和華你的上帝o』(14:1)

        在植花蒔草這件事上，人們通常分成兩類，有些人是園藝好手，有些人則笨手笨腳。你屬於哪一類？
        高聳入雲的巨樹……滿山的森林……再沒有比它們更美的景觀了。或許你從來沒有停下來想一想，所有這些巨樹的前身都與你家那塊小花園裡的植物一模一樣:都是一粒種子。渺小……看起來微不足道……從它旁邊經過的人也對它視而不見。然而，這粒種子卻含有驚人的成長和繁殖能力。有一天，它將變成一顆巍峨的大樹。
        所以，難怪當何西阿欲尋找一個恰當的例子來形容上帝復興之民的潛力時，他便從自然界中援引這幅圖畫:「百合花……扎根……枝條……橄欖樹……五穀……葡萄樹……酒……青翠的松樹……果子」(14:5－8)。自然界默默而有力的證明一件事實:上帝能使一粒種子變成一顆大樹，倘若你將它們交託在上帝慈愛的手中。一點點才華……一筆小錢……一點時間－－每一項都能在上帝的經濟計畫裡作出重大的貢獻。將以下這句箴言貼在你的汽車儀表板或書桌上，並以它作為你這一天思想的主題:「上帝的參與能使小變大。」

        走在上帝的道路上，當心你的腳步（何14：9）
        上帝的道路義人能夠站立，罪人却要跌倒，聽起來十分諷刺，却是千真萬確，而且屢試不爽！

習慣最容易使人重蹈覆轍。

English

        God is holy and just, but He is also loving and gracious. God must discipline, but because of His endless love He will ultimately save and restore His wayward people. "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him" (14:4). Hosea whose heart has already been broken once by the harlotry and shameful behavior of his wife. Corner, now pleads one last time for his countrymen to repent: "O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God" (14:1).

        When it comes to growing a garden, there are usually two kinds of people: those with green thumbs who grow everything, and those who are all thumbs and grow nothing. To which group do you belong?
        There is nothing quite like the sight of a majestic tree towering over the landscape ... unless, of course, it is the sight of a forest of trees blanketing the hillside. Perhaps you never stopped to realize that all those trees began exactly the same way as the plants in your humble garden: with a seed. Small ... seemingly insignificant ... virtually ignored by those who walk by it. Yet that seed contains the awesome potential for growth and reproduction that will one day transform it into a majestic tree.
        It is not surprising, therefore, that when Hosea searches for a suitable illustration to describe the potential of God's restored people, he finds it in a picture drawn from nature: "the lily ... roots ... branches ... olive tree ... corn ... vine .,. green fir tree ... fruit" (14:5-8).
        Nature silently but eloquently testifies to the fact that God is in the business of transforming seeds into trees if you will but entrust them to His loving hands. A little talent ... a little money ... a little time—each can become something great in God's economy. Copy this motto onto an index card, put it on your dashboard or desk, and make it your order for the day: "Little is much when God is in it."

        In the Way of the Lord, Watch Your Step! (14:9) —
        It is ironic but true that the very paths which cause the righteous to stand will cause the wicked to stumble ... every time.

Every man must do his own growing, no matter how tall his parents are.