Molly loves me to feed her titbits and treats by hand. Apparently, hand feeding strengthens bonds between pet and owner. Naturally, I am the one who has taught her bad habits. You see, we like to share, and she thinks she is entitled to share whatever is on my plate at mealtimes.
Not all “people-food” is good for dogs, so, I have devised a way to skirt the problem. I cook chicken breasts for her, and cut up a few pieces to feed to her “off my plate”. She is perfectly satisfied with this deception as long as I feed the chicken to her by hand. She even chooses to start her meal with her titbits, and then digs into her pellets with gusto.
This is a good arrangement as long as I keep the supply of chicken breasts going, quite a costly ruse, but it works for us and keeps our fellowship sweet!
Did you know that we also thrive when God “hand-feeds” us with His Word? Through the prophet Hosea, God lamented that Israel had forgotten how He had handfed them in the wilderness, stooping down to their level as a parent would feed a toddler. They had forsaken a loving Father for dumb idols that could do nothing for them.
Hosea 11:1-4 NIV
[1] “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. [2] But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. [3] It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. [4] I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.”
How tenderly God cared for His people, attending to every need as a mother would do for a tiny infant. He describes the same care for “newborn” Israel in Ezekiel 16
Ezekiel 16:4-14 NIV
[4] On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. [5] No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. [6] “ ‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!” [7] I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked. [8] “ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine. [9] “ ‘I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. [10] I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. [11] I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, [12] and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. [13] So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. [14] And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
What more could God have done for a nation that rejected and betrayed Him, giving their allegiance instead to gods who were capricious and evil?
Yet God continues to love and hand feed all who trust Him through Jesus, and who willingly receive and thrive on His Word.
Matthew 4:4 NIV
[4]”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Psalms 19:9-11 NIV
[9]”The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. [10] They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. [11] By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Jeremiah 15:16 NIV
[16]”When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”
1 Peter 2:2-3 NLT
[2] “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, [3] now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”
John 6:35 NLT
[35] Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
The Holy Spirit’s ministry to us is like a mother’s care for her little child, providing everything that the little one needs for healthy growth. So, the Holy Spirit provides the rich milk and fresh bread of the Word for us daily if we choose to follow His leading.
Dear friends, let God hand-feed you with a daily portion of Jesus, the bread of life. The Holy Spirit will teach you all you need to know about Him as you ingest His “flesh and His blood”, a powerful and graphic way of allowing His death to give you life.
Truly, God “handfeeds” us with the most nourishing “food’ in His” pantry” when we choose to feast on the living Word.