We the people listen but not to God

Hosea 8:8-14  

As I listen to our national news in this year of electing a President to lead this great nation, we are being told the people have lost trust in the establishment of both parties and the young are looking to a socialist and the old are looking to a so-called non-political businessman.  They are not the only ones in the political race one woman is left who may be indicted, a governor with little chance, and a Senator who is a Constitutionalist.  As a follower of Christ, I see a whirlwind on the horizon.  It is being driven by lack of trust in both parties and rightly so, and fear that has lead to anger.  Many preachers are caught up in supporting a businessman who has not shown any of the character of Jesus Christ in his public actions.  I bet you are asking how this might relate to Hosea 8, and I hope to show that we, like Israel in Hosea’s time are going down the same path.

(As a student of history, I also see the Germany of 1933, not that long ago, where the churches wrongly believed Hitler was on their side, in fact, most pastors were convinced that Hitler was on their side based on a speech in 1922, where he called Jesus “Our great Aryan hero.”  Hitler’s religion was himself; and it looks as if history is repeating once more, (for it seems many who go to Washington have self as their religion) because we have not valued the lessons learned and the youth have not been taught history.)  Note: In no way am I implying the businessman is a Hitler, just full of self.

With that said, back to Hosea 8, it is not looking good for Israel, they have trusted in government, in the military, in the priest, false prophets, evil leaders, and in wealth and the gods of their neighbors, giving only lip service to the God of Abraham.  Foreigners are coming with vast armies to kill and destroy all that they have trusted in, and many of them will be carried away to other lands.  But before this, all happened they took some notice of the Prophets like Hosea, and Ephraim began to build many altars to God, but the altars only increased Israel’s sin, it may be what the USA did after 911, by filling the churches for a few weeks.  If only we understood that God always looks at our heart, not the outward acts of mankind, and He cannot be conned.

If only you and I would spend one-fifth the time in God’s word that we do on our smart- phones, with the heart attitude of obeying what we are reading, God would heal our Nation.  Listen to God speaking through Isaiah 1:13-17, “Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me.  New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.  When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.  Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good;
seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.”  Many a person who goes by the name Christian needs to turn off the smartphone that has made you its slave, and turn to Jesus who came to give you eternal life in Him.  Now I am fully aware to do so one must enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, not the church that comes later.  First, ask Jesus into your messed up life, full of self and hurts, He is the only one who can fix what is broken.  And never forget He knows you, and loves you and with that knowledge was still willing to die to set you free, now that is love!

When Hosea said these words to the nation of Israel, it was also being said to each of us; as stated in verses 12-14, “Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing.  As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them.  Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.  For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds.”

Note: Today we the American people have chosen, the businessman and the woman who was not prosecuted.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice