Knowing God on God's Terms – Not Ours

(Read first, then hold your place in Hosea 4 for the days ahead.)

“Come, let us return to the LORD.For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” – Hosea 6:1–3

No matter how long someone has been following Christ, one of the greatest challenges of the Christian life remains the same: truly knowing God. Not just knowing facts about Him, but understanding His ways and learning to walk in those ways.

Many believers quietly carry this tension. They’ve been Christians for years, yet they wonder if they have really grown in their understanding of how God works in their lives. If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone.

But Scripture reframes the problem.

The issue is not that God is difficult to know. From a biblical perspective, God is always making Himself known. He revealed Himself through His law, displayed His glory in creation, and revealed Himself fully in Jesus Christ. God has made Himself knowable.

The deeper issue is this: we often try to know God on our terms rather than His.

That is the heart of God’s message in Hosea. Through the prophet’s painful marriage to an unfaithful wife, God illustrated His own covenant relationship with Israel. God had been faithful. Israel had not. Over time, Israel grew tired of God – not because God stopped speaking, but because they stopped listening.

In Hosea 6, Israel speaks words that sound sincere: “Come, let us return to the LORD… Let us press on to know the LORD.” 

They knew God was faithful “as the dawn.” They knew He could heal and restore. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Israel wanted restoration without transformation. They wanted relief without repentance. They wanted God’s blessings without walking in God’s ways.

This passage teaches us something foundational about spiritual growth: knowing God begins by returning to Him on His terms, not ours. 

God invites His people to grow, but that growth always begins with humility – by acknowledging that God defines how He is known.

Quote for Reflection

“To know God is the greatest of all pursuits, and the highest of all attainments.” – Charles Spurgeon

Prayer

Lord, You have made Yourself known, and You have been faithful even when I have been careless in responding to You. Forgive me for the times I have tried to approach You on my own terms instead of Yours. Teach me to return to You with a humble heart and to press on in truly knowing You. I want to know You—not just in word, but in the way I live. Amen.

Growing with You!

Pastor Bob

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About Pastor Bob Moya, DMin.

Dr. Bob Moya has served as the lead pastor with his wife Candace at City Chapel in Arlington, Texas for over 25 years. He recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Spiritual Renewal and Leadership in the spring of 2024. When not serving at the church, you'll find Bob enjoying a good read at Barnes & Noble, sipping a nitro cold brew or black coffee from Starbucks, or spending time with his family.