Sorry, I've gotten a bit behind updating this blog. I'll start first with recapping this past Sunday and hopefully later this week I'll recap the previous Sunday.
In our passage this Sunday we reviewed again the details of Israel's rebellion, were confronted with the harsh reality of God's judgment as an inevitable consequence because of Israel's rebellion, and then found hope in the form of some questions and reminders.
Israel was a people who constantly "strove with God" (Hosea 12:3). God had been been extremely generous and gracious to them throughout their history. They however became complacent, taking for granted God's blessings (cf Hosea 13:4-6). This complacency led to pride, which led to them forgetting about God and worshiping idols.
Israel's rejection of God would bring on them devastating consequences. This section of Hosea contains some of the harshest descriptions of what God's judgment on Israel will entail. God says that he will be like a wild predator against them (Hosea 13:7-9). The nation will become as nothing, they will disappear (Hosea 13:3). Their sin will have a disastrous effect on their society, affecting the most vulnerable people in their community (Hosea 13:16).
In the midst of all this however we get the questions posed in Hosea 13:14, which seems to suggest that perhaps God will save his people from the death that awaits them. How will this happen? By way of Hosea 12:6. There we are reminded how we can get right with God. We must return to God, something that is only possible by God's help. We must maintain steadfast love and justice in our lives and in our community. And we must wait continually, with eager anticipation, for God, which doesn't mean being passive but coming near to God, "leaning forward" towards God. Fortunately, we do these things knowing already how God will respond. He has responded to us with Christ. In Christ the questions of Hosea 13:14 become definitive answers. In Christ God has saved us from the power of death and the judgment we all deserve for our sin against him (cf 1 Cor 15:54-56).
How do the truths contained in this passage resonate with you? Was it difficult for any of you to read this passage, especially the severe and harsh descriptions of what will happen to Israel? (Note: God's judgment did eventually come on Israel; you can read the account of it in 2 Kings 16-17.) How can we avoid become "full" prideful Christians who forget God(cf Hosea 13:5-6) and instead be Christians who are always thankful to God for Christ, "leaning forward" towards him?
2 comments:
Not sure if this is an open blog to chat on, but the thing that I found interesting about these last couple of chapters in Hosea was Hosea 12
1Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long;they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria,and oil is carried to Egypt. ...
and ...
8Ephraim has said, "Ah, but I am rich;I have found wealth for myself;in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin."
I have seen this as such an easy way to be persuaded away from God-that one way gives a quick pleasure and the lasting joy of God can be forgotten. Also, that because one might be doing okay, away from God, they forget about that need for God. ...until that temporary pleasure is gone, and then it is a sorrow all too great!
Thanks for your comments Kirsten (and of course this is an open blog!)
What you brought out from the passage is a theme that can be found in several other places in the Bible. For example, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21 to not seek the treasures on earth, which will eventually rot and fade away, but instead build up for ourselves treasures in heaven, which will never fade away.
The basic human problem is that we are inclined to revolve our lives around things that don't last, that can offer a form of happiness and pleasure but not true, eternal happiness. Doing this will always ultimately dissatisfy us because we were made to be pursue things that will last, to know and experience eternal happiness and joy. This can only happen when God is at the center of lives. Anything less than God at the center of our lives is an idol that will inevitably let us down.
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