Who Will Give That there May Be Such a Heart In Them?

“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.  Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him—Joel 1:12-14

These verses from Joel brought this verse from Deuteronomy 5 to mind:

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! --Deuteronomy 5:29

That is God's heart for us. He wants our hearts to be completely His.  When this is the case, He knows it will be well with us forever.  As a mom I can so understand those words.  I want it to be well with my children and my grand children forever. I want them to walk with their God in truth. I know that the best life they can live is one lived in the will of God.  One lived for Him. There is no better or safer place.  The language of the original is emphatic: "Mee yittain wehayah levavom zeh lahem", literally, "Who will give that there may be such a heart in them?"  They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it?

No truer words were ever spoken. A changed heart is a miracle from God.  We must be willing to receive it.  Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem knowing the fate it would suffer a short 70 years after His crucifixion. He wanted to gather His children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they were not willing!  I am so thankful that our God pursues us relentlessly.  He is not willing that any should perish but that all should have life in His name.