Last week a friend asked me after my first post on Hosea if I was going to stay in Hosea for awhile.  And because my first impulse is always in line with God’s plan, I immediately answered, “No, I am going to go back to Jonah since that is what I am preparing to teach in the Fall.”

And God smiled at my innocent presumptuousness.

As my friend and I continued to talk about Hosea, I realized a lot of verses had really grabbed my attention.  Half a dozen blog posts were swirling in my head.

And God smiled as the light bulb went off in my head that maybe I should stay in Hosea for awhile.

I have a lot of these kinds of moments with my kids.

I sit and watch them try to figure something out.  I may even offer a suggestion that will lead them to the solution.  But they either don’t act on my advice or remain confused.  So they continue to rely on their own intelligence to reach their goal.  I sit back and smile, watching the wheels in their minds spin, knowing that they will eventually resolve the problem at hand, and enjoying my front row seat to the process.  Because when they finally get it, their little faces light up with pride and excitement that is worth the price of frustration they’ve paid.

That’s the kind of satisfaction God had with me the other day when I finally realized He wants me to keep writing about Hosea.

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21