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)  

 

What did I do to deserve This?

 Read Hosea 8.

Sound the alarm!  Blow the trumpet!  With those words, the LORD announced the certainty of the coming judgment upon Israel and Judah.  What did they do to deserve this punishment?

1. They violated the commitment. (v.1b, 12)
After the Exodus from slavery in Egypt and before the Jews entered the land, God laid out His expectations of their national behavior.  In Deuteronomy 28, there would be blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to God's law.  Moses said, "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil" (Deuteronomy 29:15).  In Hosea's day, God's word no longer had any influence in their lives. They brought this judgment on themselves.

2. They made leadership decisions without consulting the LORD. (v.4a)
Of the nineteen kings in the northern kingdom of Israel, not one of them was a godly man.  In Judah, only eight of the twenty kings honored God and His word.

3. They worshiped made up gods. (v.4b-6, 11)
With their mouths they said to the LORD of heaven, "My God."  But, their money and their hearts were given to objects they crafted with their own hands.

4. They were independent and stubborn. (v.9-10)
God compared them to a wild donkey, wandering alone.  Yet, for protection they hired mercenary allies.  The cost of their actions bankrupted them both spiritually and financially.

5. They put they put their hope in material possessions. (v.14)
Israel built palaces as outward signs of prosperity.  Judah constructed fortified cities thinking they would provide protection.

As a result of their own sinful choices, there is no good news here.  "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." (v.7)  Instead of planting their lives in the good soil of godliness that would produce good results, they lived life wildly wasting what God had given them.   

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8)  

 

5 comparisons of a rebellious Heart

 Read Hosea 7.

Foolishly, the people believed they could go on rebelling against God and, in time, He would not remember!  The deceitfulness of the human heart causes many to think that the LORD will overlook their sin ("it is not that bad") or the consequences will simply go away.

There are five comparative statements regarding Israel's sad and sinful condition.
1. Like an unattended fire. (vv.4-7)
The baker busied herself waiting for the dough to rise and forgot without a hot oven her efforts would be wasted.  Israel's love for God had waned and grown cold.  The only passion they showed was for more sin.

2. Like an unturned cake. (v.8)
A pancake that is not flipped will burn on one side and remain uncooked on the other.  The product will not be fit to eat and must be tossed out.  Israel's duplicity of saying they know God and, yet, engaging in the sinful alliances and practices of the ungodly made them useless to either one.

3. Like an aging man. (vv.9-10)
In addition to the internal spiritual problems, the nation aligned themselves with other nations, hoping for protection.  They did that instead of relying on God.  It was pride that kept them from repenting and seeking God's help.  Such behavior is compared to a man who is losing the strength of his youth but refuses to admit it.

4. Like a dove. (v.11)
The LORD called a dove silly and senseless.  The actions of Israel were just like that.  Egypt was no longer the world power it once was and Assyria would brutally turn on them as an enemy.

5. Like a bad bow. (v.16)
A weapon that cannot shoot straight is unreliable and worthless.  This leaves the person defenseless in battle and people will be killed.  Israel's sin kept them from realizing how much danger awaited them.

God's response will be to use the Assyrians for discipline, but His heart was to redeem them (vv.12-13).  It was the heart of Jesus.  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:37).

God, give us willing hearts today.

 

Proving sincerity toward God

 Read Hosea 6.

God's discipline is not designed merely to make us feel bad but to help us turn back to Him.  There we find healing, wholeness, and blessing.

In verses 1 through 3 are words of repentance.
1. "Let us return to the LORD."
The definition of the word repent is to turn.  This is a humble admission that one has been going in the wrong direction.  Notice what God does when a person comes to Him in such a way:
-He may heal us.
-He will bind us up.
-He will revive us.
-He will raise us up.
Why?  So "that we may live before him."

2. "Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD."
The sincerity of true repentance is seen in what happens next.  A heart that desires a relationship with God wants to know Him more.  This is not a class or a church meeting.  Knowing God and the Scriptures become a way of life.  Such a person experiences the trustworthiness of the LORD ("as sure as the dawn") and seeks His blessings on their lives like the "spring rains."

A part of God's indictment against Israel and Judah was that their love for Him proved to be like the morning dew.  It disappeared during the day.  Oh, they went through the motions of required rituals of worship, but as long as they harbored unconfessed sin their sacrifices had no value.  What He desired from them was a consistent, committed, faithful love from them (vv.4-6).  Then, their offerings would demonstrate true worship.

This is not an either or proposition.  The LORD wants both our love and our giving.  Jesus said, "But woe to you, Pharisees!  For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God.  These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others." (Luke 11:42)

 

 

Pain with a Purpose

 Read Hosea 5.

The LORD continued to pre-announce His punishment of the northern kingdom of Israel.  In addition, Judah is mentioned here.  Though all the people stood guilty before Him, God again singled out the priests for their failure to spiritual teach and provide godly leadership for the nation.  Instead, the "revolters" (v.2), led the people deeper and deeper into sin.

Though the people went through the rituals of worshiping the LORD, their lives and practices proved otherwise.  Claiming to know God, they practiced sexual immorality for the fertility deities.  They looked for guidance and celebration in things such as the New Moon.  They were raising a generation of children in spiritual and physical adultery.  God would no longer tolerate such sinful disobedience.

At the initial pain, Israel turned to Assyria for help (v.13).  This wicked and brutal empire was the very instrument God prepared to punish them!  Don't miss the multiple "I will" statements from God in verses 14 and 15.  Though the Assyrians would invade, it was God Himself delivering the judgment blows upon Israel.

What was God's purpose and His desire?
According to verse 15, His discipline of them would one day come to an end.  He removed His presence and His blessings "until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face."  

 

The Apostle Paul wrote, "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret..." (2 Corinthians 7:10a)  Sometimes pain is the only teacher that causes some people to stop what they are doing and listen to the Lord. 

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11)

 

What happens when God's word is Ignored?

 Read Hosea 4.

God indicted Israel.  The "controversy" refers to a legal case against them.  The charges included unfaithfulness, lack of love, and "no knowledge of God in the land."  And, that is just the first verse.  In the second verse, He named five of the Ten Commandments that they were violating. 

What was the source of the problem?
The spiritual leaders of the nation were not godly men.  The northern kingdom separated from the south, where Jerusalem and the Temple were located.  As a result, they made up their own religious practices in an effort to mimic what God had ordered.

Priestly responsibilities included leading the people in worship and teaching them God's word.  Instead, the priests of the north had moral problems of their own, "you stumble by day" (v.5a).  The priests shared in the meat, grain, and financial offerings.  Their greed became their shame.  Their reasoning was the more people sinned, the more they personally benefited.  This prompted God's announced punishment (vv.7-9).

Prophets were specially called to deliver targeted messages from God to the people.  But, they too were corrupt, having been bought and paid for by the king and not called by God at all.

Meanwhile, the people suffered.  "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge..." (v.6a)  The nation even began praying to pieces of wood they had carved into idols (v.12).  Without knowing the truth, false religions, drunkenness, and sexual immorality were rampant.

People do not naturally know the truth and how to put it into practice.  They must be taught and learn what God expects of them.  Today, Christians have no excuse.  We have our own copies of the Bible in order to know the truth and to discern if others are speaking the truth about God.  While it is the primary job of the pulpit to communicate the word of God, the responsibility does not end there.  Every believer in Jesus has a personal responsibility to study the Scriptures for themselves daily and live accordingly.  Failure to do so will inevitably lead to sin.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)