3 action steps in a Crisis

 Read Joel 1.

This is not merely a prophet's message.  It is "the word of the LORD" (v.1).

The target audience was the southern kingdom of Judah.  What was happening and about to take place had never been experienced in the nation's history. 

A devastating locust attack on all the agriculture is described in four waves.  Each wave of infestation destroyed the land to a new low.  Apparently, the locust plague was accompanied by a severe drought (v.20).  The condition of the land was so bad that there was not enough to offer the LORD for the grain and drink offerings at the Temple.  This is a thinly disguised comparison to what the Babylonians would do in their multi-phased invasion of Judah.  Everything will be stripped away; everything will be lost.  The people are compared to drunkards (v.5).  The innumerable Babylonians are compared to attacking lions (v.6).

In brokenness, the nation is urged to go into a state of mourning.  They are told to put on sackcloth and lament (v.13).  But those were only outward signs of grief.  God wanted more from them.  His desire was for them to acknowledge that they brought this on themselves due to their sin and to express sorrow from their hearts.  In verse 14, He issued the following instructions to seek Him.

1. Consecrate a fast.
Fasting indicates there is a priority greater than food.  Most often, a truly grief-stricken person loses their appetite.  This is a time when the spirit needs more attention than the body.  The sense of physical hunger serves as the trigger for a superseding hunger for God.

2. Call a solemn assembly.
Since this was a national dilemma, all the people were called to gather together.  The New Testament reminds us that we are not to neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25).  We need one another for regular encouragement, instruction, and worship.  How much more when we are faced with overwhelming circumstances!

3. Cry out to the LORD.
The purpose of the gathering was specifically for prayer.  The Hebrew word for "cry" in this verse means "to shriek" as someone would loudly do when in severe pain or terrorized.  Together, as a nation, they were to shriek to the LORD, confessing their sin, and pleading for mercy.

"The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17)

 

Life at the Crossroads

 Read Hosea 14.

God's judgment upon Israel's rebellion was sure, but it would not be permanent.  Even at that this point, He issued a call for them to repent of their sin and turn back to Him.

In the prophetic plan of God, He announced that one day the Jews would return to Him.  At that time, "I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them" (v.4).  But that day of spiritual restoration for the nation has yet to come.  The Apostle Paul looked forward to it in Romans 9-11.

In the LORD's call for repentance, He even instructed the people step by step in what to do.
1. Confessing of sin. (v.2b)
"Take away all iniquity."  The first step is to admit the sin to God and agree with Him of its wrong.  More than that, it is seeking His forgiveness and cleansing from the sin.
"If we confess out sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

2. Offering for sin. (v.2c)
Under the Old Testament Law, the sinner offered to God the blood of sacrificed animals as an atoning payment.  But the blood of animals only covered the sin; it never took it away.  That is why the words of John the Baptist concerning Jesus in John 1:29 are so spiritually earth-shattering.  "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  Since the crucifixion, there are no more offerings for sin.  The debt has been paid.  Accepting Christ's death as the full and final payment for one's personal sin is the sinner's prayer.

3. Forsaking the sin. (v.3)
Words and rituals may be only a pretense of repentance.  The real proof is in a changed life.  God's call for Israel to demonstrate a new direction included giving up their dependence upon Assyria to protect them and ridding their lives of spiritual allegiance to anything else.  God demands exclusive worship and obedience to Him.

The result?  Those who are totally dependent upon the LORD will find mercy (v.3c).  God answers prayer and cares for us (v.8a).  It is God who is the source of the provisions we need (v.8b).

Like Israel, every life comes to a crossroads and must decide which way they will go.   The closing verse of Hosea issues a clear invitation for a decision.  Those who are wise and understand will choose to turn to the LORD and live in ways that please Him.  Those who turn away from Him will continue to stumble through life and experience the painful consequences.  Choose Him.

Sin, death and the Resurrection

 Read Hosea 13.

Judah had been chosen to be the tribe of the royal line.  However, when the kingdom divided, Jeroboam became king in the north from the tribe of Ephraim.  Separated from Jerusalem and the Temple, the northern kingdom gave itself to idol worship.

Craftsmen made images of calves out of silver to which the people ascribed spiritual power.  Incredibly, grown men worshipped by kissing an inanimate object they made with their own hands.  Then, in their delusion, they offered human sacrifices to appease it (v.2).  They did this despite their heritage of faith in God, not acknowledging all that God had done for them, and ignoring the prophets He sent to call them back to Him.

In order to bring some reality to their thinking, the LORD reminded them that He alone is God "and there is no savior" apart from Him.  All the religious philosophies and rituals of this world can never take away sin!  There is only one cure for sin, only one source of forgiveness, and only one way to heaven.  Jesus claimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

God's judgment on the sin of Israel was pre-announced and sure.  The time had come and He would not relent.  In verse 14, God asked four questions about holding back the punishment, but "compassion is hidden from my eyes."  The Assyrians were used to implement God's plan.

When the Apostle Paul wrote so vigorously concerning the resurrection of Christ as the proof of eternal life for every believer, he first referred to a verse from Isaiah and then quoted two of the questions from Hosea 13:14. 
"He will swallow up death forever..." (Isaiah 25:8)
"O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Jesus paid the price for the sin of the world, once for all, when He was crucified.  Therefore, for the believer in Jesus there is no fear of death or uncertainty of what will take place afterwards.  His resurrection is our guarantee.  "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

 

Learning lessons from History

 Read Hosea 12.

The LORD continued to make His legal case against Israel for their disobedience.  Here, He gave an historical review of their heritage from Jacob.  The covenant with Abraham passed to his only son Isaac.  Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob.  The birthright and covenant went to Jacob.  Jacob's name was changed to Israel.  At the time of Hosea's writing, over a thousand years had gone by.  Jacob's story would have been a familiar one to them, but step by step God reminded them of their roots.

Jacob wrestled with his brother in the womb.
Jacob wrestled with God as an adult.
Jacob wrestled with the angel until he received a blessing.  (Genesis 25-35)

By the end of Genesis, Jacob’s entire family lived in honor and treated as royalty by the Egyptian government.  At the opening of Exodus, they had become a nation of millions who were enslaved.  With a series of miracles, God delivered the Jews and led them back to the land He promised to Abraham.

In Israel's prosperity, they forgot the LORD and claimed credit for what they had.  Even worse, they thought they had done no wrong.  "Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin" (v.8).  Self-made?  Righteous?  Hardly!

God's call to them was simple.  Like Jacob, who made some bad decisions and resolved them, the nation needed to finally come to the place where they dealt with the real problem. 
"So you..." (v.6)
1. "...with the help of your God..."
The first step is to recognize one needs help.  The second is to realize that only God can truly help with the forgiveness of sin.  When dealing with sin, self-help is useless.

2. "...return..."
Repentance involves change.  It is an admission that one has been going in the wrong direction, away from God, and turns back to Him.

3. "...hold fast to love and justice..."
True repentance is seen in a changed behavior.  Instead of doing wrong and mistreating people, a person in right relationship with God loves God, loves people, and acts accordingly.

4. "...wait continually for your God."
Another sign of true repentance is the riddance of the wrong sort of independence.  Waiting on God is a lifestyle of dependence upon Him.

Words from a grieving Parent

 Read Hosea 11.

For every parent who has grieved over the choices and behaviors of their children, God knows all about it.
 
Like a brokenhearted father of a wayward son, the LORD recounted all that He did to raise the nation of Israel.  This chapter contains some of the most emotional, loving, and compassionate statements from God.  He was and is personally involved in our lives.  Notice the eight personal statements in verses 1-4.
-I loved him
-I called my son
-I who taught Ephraim to walk
-I took them up by their arms
-I healed them
-I led them
-I became to them as one who eases the yoke
-I bent down to them and fed them

Yet, "the more they were called,  the more they went away."  The prodigal took what the father had provided and chased after the Baals to worship them.  "They refused to return to me" (v.5b).

The LORD asked four rhetorical questions in verse 8.  Every loving father can identify with the parental angst when there is a need to discipline a disobedient child.  As regrettable as it may seem, failing to act in an effective manner demonstrates a lack of love.  The Bible does NOT say, "Spare the rod, spoil the child."  Rather, "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." (Proverbs 13:24)

Too often, well-meaning books have been written using Scripture to present ideal parenting.  While those principles are true, they are principles not promises.  If the perfect parent (God) had disappointments with His children, why are we surprised that we may feel the same way?  There comes a time in every life that the individual is responsible for their own behavior and cannot blame the parent.

Many fear what God may do in response to their sin, instead of understanding what sin does to Him.  After all He has done, including Jesus dying on the cross for us, it breaks His heart.  "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)

In verses 10-11, the LORD looks forward to that future day when the damaged relationship will be restored and the children come home.

 

What is the danger in having extra Resources?

 Read Hosea 10.

Israel enjoyed prosperity and the blessings of the LORD.  What happened next brought their downfall. 

Proverbs 30:8-10 provides the warning.  "Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."

When things were going well in the nation, the leaders and the people relaxed their spiritual commitments.  Israel mistook financial prosperity to mean they could live however they wished.  Some of their wealth was used to build altars to false gods.  After a while they no longer felt any obligation nor need for the LORD.  The rebelliousness of their hearts and independent spirits led them to reject all authority and accountability over them.  "We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD; and a king--what could he do for us?" (v.3)

The natural law of sowing and reaping came upon them (vv.12-13).  Sowing sin always produces a crop of hurt and loss.  God called them to practice righteousness in their lives and show Him steadfast love in their worship.  Through the prophets, God implored them, "it is time to seek the LORD."  But they refused to listen.  Judgment was on its way (vv.14-15).

This is a good reminder why we are blessed.  Scripture is clear on God's expectations of our use of money.  The first tenth belongs to Him.  "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;" (Proverbs 3:9).  After that, the LORD provides for our needs and, perhaps, some extra to enjoy.  But we should be asking what more God wants us to do in generosity.

The Apostle Paul wrote: "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

 

The 3 lessons of Stewardship

 Read Hosea 9.

Israel celebrated the harvest by giving thanks and worshiping Baal.  The theme of this spiritual adultery towards the God of heaven runs through the entire book of Hosea.  Meanwhile, the One who owns the land, who provided the seed, who sent the rain and the sun to nourish the crops, who gave them life and strength to work the fields, remained ignored.

The Owner's judgment upon them for this misuse of His properties included that they would be taken from "the land of the LORD" (v.3) and that they would experience the invasion of the brutal Assyrian Empire.  The Assyrian strategy was to slaughter any opposition, destroy the cities it conquered, and scatter those who remained.  The ten northern tribes, therefore, "shall be wanderers among the nations" (v.10).

This put an end to their pretense of worshiping of the LORD.  They would be forced to eat unclean foods and, as a result, be ceremonially unclean according to the Law (vv.3-5).  Instead of feast days, "the days of punishment have come" (v.7).  These were God's chosen people but, because of their rebellion against Him, He now would withdraw His love and blessings from them for a time.

They failed the stewardship test! 
1. The first lesson of stewardship is that God owns it all.  
"The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1)

2. The second lesson is that humans are individually responsible to manage God's possessions in a manner that pleases Him.
"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2)

3. The third lesson is that each of us will give an account to the Owner of what we did with His time, His abilities, and His resources He gave us during this life.
Jesus compared it this way in a story: "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property....Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them." (Matthew 25:14-30)

Those who understand and are faithful look forward to one day hearing those wonderful words of commendation: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21)