We continued reading the prophecies of Hosea, which are not uplifting at all. The Lord asked him to marry a prostitute to demonstrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to Him. While He has remained faithful, they had been adulterous. Here is an example of God venting His wrath:
“Here the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has filed a
lawsuit against you, saying ‘There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no
knowledge of God in your land! You curse and lie and kill and steal and commit
adultery... Alcohol and prostitution have robbed My people of their brains.
They are asking a piece of wood to tell them what to do! They think a stick can
tell them the future. Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have
played the prostitute, serving other gods and deserting their God... For they
have betrayed the honor of the Lord, bearing children that aren’t His’” (4:1, 2, 11, 12).
The Lord goes on to lay the blame on Israel’s leaders, their kings and
priests. “Listen, all you men of the royal family. These words of judgment are
for you. You are doomed! For you have led the people into a snare by worshiping
idols. I will settle with all of you for what you have done. I know what you
have done. You have left me like a prostitute leaves her husband. You are
utterly defiled” (5:1-3).
The Lord continued His charges against the priests, “Don’t point your
finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! Look, you priests, My
complaint is with you. My people are being destroyed because they don’t know
Me. It is all your fault, for you yourselves refuse to know Me... Like priests,
like people. Since the priests are wicked, the people are wicked too” (4:4-9).
Thankfully, in the midst of these charges and promise of judgment and
exile, God promised a ray
of hope. “Then the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Go and get your wife again. Bring her
back to you and love her, even though she loves adultery. For the Lord still
loves Israel...’” (3:1).
Though God’s wrath will burn and Israel’s judgment will be harsh, He will still
be merciful and restore Israel to her land and her covenant with Him.
Daily Reflection
While each of us are responsible for our own relationship with the
Lord, I couldn’t help but be convicted about my leadership of others. Am I
leading them towards the Lord or away from Him? Am I leading them to be faithful to
Him or would I be responsible for their apostasy? Jesus said, “A student is not
above His teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like
his teacher” (Luke 6:40).
I believe everyone is leading someone, be- cause everyone
has influence; and, it only takes one follower to be a leader. What kind of leader have you been?
Are you leading others towards the Lord or away from Him?
If your children, your friends, your students, your co-workers, your
small group, or your church members patterned their lives after your example,
your teaching, your leadership, then what would they be like? Could
God blame you for leading others astray?
BiAY.org | Day 177 — 188 Days to Go
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