God does not Change

Hosea 4:1-6

I’ve found a book that was written sometime between 786-746 B.C. that gives us an understanding of what is taking place in the United States of America, now at this very moment.  The book was to address Israel by a prophet named Hosea, and chapter four begins with these words; “Hear the word of the Lord, people of Israel.” 

It is going to be needed for some of you to address this one character of God before going forward; God does not change!  The Bible addressed this often, in Malachi 3:6, “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”  In James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  Also in Numbers 23:19, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”  God’s word is eternal, look at Psalm 119:89, “Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” 

Now because God does not change we must consider if America’s sins line up with the sins of Israel in Hosea’s time, should we not be more than a little concerned?  The following is God’s charges against Israel, and I believe we are doing as they did, so the question must be asked are we experiencing judgment?  “Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.  There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away.  Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest.  You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother.  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.  And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:1-6)

This was a call to the true people of Israel to come clean to grasp the fullness of the sins against God.  They like the USA were morally and spiritually bankrupt, they had little knowledge of God, and were going after material things, and sex outside of marriage trying to fill the void that only God can fill.  They were placing faith in what false teachers, priests, and prophets were saying and would not allow or would ignore the prophets God sent to them.  They by their own choosing forfeited the right to be called the children of God.  They walked away from truth and integrity, and they wanted God’s kindness and mercy, but only on their terms.  So the results were they did not show kindness and mercy and began to take advantage of those who were in need or under-resourced.  The darker their hearts became the more they sought other gods, and did vile things, with no desire to seek the God who loves them.  I believe that is a snapshot of the USA today, and many people who have the title of Christian.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice