Hosea 7 & 8 -- Thinking God Doesn't Have A Clue

God’s words about Israel in these chapters reminded me of being a parent of a teenager – knowing and remembering what teenagers do and think yet being thought of by the teenager as not having a clue about everything they’re doing. 

God said, “It never enters their minds that I remember all their evil deeds… The bad things they do are all around them; they are right in front of Me.”

What are some of the things Israel has done?  “They make agreements with those who do not know the true God … Israel’s pride will cause their defeat; they will not turn back to the Lord their God or look to Him for help in all this…. They chose their own kings without asking My permission.  They chose their own leaders, people I did not know … I have written many teachings for them, but they think the teachings are strange and foreign … Israel has forgotten their Maker.”

God even saw through their lame attempts to appear sorrowful:  “They do not call to Me from their hearts.  They just lie on their beds and cry.”  They weren’t displaying genuine repentance.  They were only sorry because they were having to be punished.

Father, again and again the wisdom packed into Your words warns us, and You provide ample opportunities to either avoid sin or to become right with You after we have sinned.  Yet too often we let our stubborn human pride get in the way of our healing.  I pray that You will stay on me, keeping me honest with You about my sin, and that You will never hesitate to point out my ignorance or my apathy if I try to move away from You as Israel did.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford