Hosea 11:1-4: When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck an bent down to feed them.
Commentary from "Today in the Word" regarding Hosea 11:1-4:
"Israel failed to know and understand God, both before and after Hosea's message and the ensuing Exile. Today's reading portrays Israel's sinfulness as even more disappointing when contrasted with God's tender love. Hosea has given us multiple perspectives of God's love and our relationship to Him, including the image of God as husband, master, and provider.
In Hosea 11, God is depicted as a loving father in an endearing image of teaching His child to walk. God not only gave life to Israel but he also reared them gently and personally. God didn't force His children to survive and grow on their own; He came alongside them and helped them in love.
Hosea reiterated the image of Israel as a beast of burden, this time describing God as a compassionate master who eased the burden and kindly fed them. Despite all the myriad of ways God showed love to His people, they did not recognize Him as the One who loved them. Israel fled from His calls and showed their love to other gods, a reaction to which many parents can sadly relate. The verse describing God's call to His rebellious children was also prophetic of Jesus' return from Egypt after fleeing with Joseph and Mary from Herod's wrath (cf.Matt. 2:15). Israel lefty Egypt only to fall into idolatry immediately, but Jesus returned to save His people from their sin. Both times, Israel failed to recognize the merciful love of the Father."
More....
Unplowed Ground
Hosea 10:12: Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, & break up your unnplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes & showers righteousness on you.
Where is your unplowed ground?
The True God
In my reading today I was focused on Hosea 10:1-10. After reading the scripture I read the "Daily Bread" commentary and this stuck out...
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods..."
This struck me and made me reflect on my walk.
The devotional goes on to say about Hosea 10:1-10:
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods rather than pursuing political reform. They mourned the loss of their idols. They ignored the loss of courage like David's or wisdom like Solomon's. Israel didn't place their hope in God or even in kings...they put their faith in manmade objects of worship. As a result of their foolishness, their government was rendered irrelevant (v.7) and their gods were proven disgraceful (v.6)."
So much can be drawn from this single paragraph, from my walk to how I see our country going and what we tend to worship.
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods..."
This struck me and made me reflect on my walk.
The devotional goes on to say about Hosea 10:1-10:
"It had been a long time since a good and wise king ruled over Israel, and that appears to have fostered their dependence on foreign gods rather than pursuing political reform. They mourned the loss of their idols. They ignored the loss of courage like David's or wisdom like Solomon's. Israel didn't place their hope in God or even in kings...they put their faith in manmade objects of worship. As a result of their foolishness, their government was rendered irrelevant (v.7) and their gods were proven disgraceful (v.6)."
So much can be drawn from this single paragraph, from my walk to how I see our country going and what we tend to worship.
Judge Not
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The murderers, the trash
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thoughtWas rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber?
Give me a clue.
''Hush, child,' said He, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'
Judge NOT.
Mundane
“Long before I landed in Portland but shortly after my conversion to Christian spirituality, I experienced periods of affinity with God.
I would lie on my bedroom floor, reading my Bible, going at the words for hours, all of them like arms wrapped tightly around my chest.
It seemed as though the words were alive with minds and motions of their own, as though God were crawling thoughts inside my head for guidance, comfort, and strength. For a while, I felt as though the world was a watch and God had lifted the lid so I could see the gears.
The intricate rules of the sociospiritual landscape were something like a play to me, and I was delighted at every turn in the plot.
The truths of the Bible were magic, like messages from heaven, like codes, enchanting codes that offered power over life, a sort of power that turned sorrow to joy, hardship to challenge, and trial to opportunity. Nothing in my life was mundane.
Early on, I made the mistake of wanting spiritual feelings to endure and remain romantic.
Like a new couple expecting to always feel in love, I operated my faith thinking God and I were going to walk around smelling flowers.
When this didn’t happen I became confused.”
Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller (59-60)
I would lie on my bedroom floor, reading my Bible, going at the words for hours, all of them like arms wrapped tightly around my chest.
It seemed as though the words were alive with minds and motions of their own, as though God were crawling thoughts inside my head for guidance, comfort, and strength. For a while, I felt as though the world was a watch and God had lifted the lid so I could see the gears.
The intricate rules of the sociospiritual landscape were something like a play to me, and I was delighted at every turn in the plot.
The truths of the Bible were magic, like messages from heaven, like codes, enchanting codes that offered power over life, a sort of power that turned sorrow to joy, hardship to challenge, and trial to opportunity. Nothing in my life was mundane.
Early on, I made the mistake of wanting spiritual feelings to endure and remain romantic.
Like a new couple expecting to always feel in love, I operated my faith thinking God and I were going to walk around smelling flowers.
When this didn’t happen I became confused.”
Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller (59-60)
Crucible for Silver and the Furnace for Gold
Proverbs 17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
The Quest study bible adds commentary on this stating, "...suffering allows the moral impurities in our character to surface. The heat of the hard times is designed to improve us, drawing us closer to the heart of the God."
The Quest study bible adds commentary on this stating, "...suffering allows the moral impurities in our character to surface. The heat of the hard times is designed to improve us, drawing us closer to the heart of the God."
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