[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
[2:29
pm, 01/01/2022] S.R: ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒𝟙:𝟙𝟘
'Yet
the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot
be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, 'You are
not My people,' It will be said to them, 'You are the sons of the living
God.'"
The
first book of Minor Prophets begins with the revelation of God's amazing love
for His people. Never doubt the love of God, friends!
The
Israelites were so rebellious that God decided to discipline them, but He
wouldn't destroy them completely. Rather, He would turn their designation from
"My people" to " My sons."
No
longer only random people, but God's children. We, Christians are likewise,
children of God. Let's live like sons and daughters of God in assurance,
confidence, and righteousness!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕤 𝟚:𝟙𝟞
"'It
will come about in that day,' declares the LORD, 'That you will call Me Ishi
And will no longer call Me Baali.'"
Another
deeper expression of relationship after discipline. Earlier, God was Israel's
Lord (Baali, in Hebrew); after the discipline, God shall be Israel's husband
(Ishi, in Hebrew).
God
is not only your Boss, but your Babe (Lover/Husband!) 😉😅😎👍 Church's husband is Christ. We, both males and
females, have a husband, He is Jesus, our Lord!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟛:𝟙
"Then
the LORD said to me, 'Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet
an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to
other gods and love raisin cakes.'"
They
say, "You never truly get over with your first love." 😂 I don't know how true is that!
And
we never know whether Gomer was Hosea's first love, but the narrative portrays
us that Gomer was unlovable. Still, Hosea went to call her back to portray
God's unyielding love for His people!
If
you are really down with spiritual deadness, Hosea is a good book to give you,
life, seeing God's love is greater than your stubbornness!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟜:𝟙
"Listen
to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the
inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or
knowledge of God in the land."
Society
deteriorates when there's no faithfulness, kindness, and knowledge of God. A
person's life becomes hard when there's no faithfulness, kindness, and
knowledge of God.
When
we read the following verses it's clear that faithfulness is referring to an adherence
to the word of God. In other words, living by the laws of God. Kindness is
referring to our actions as a result of our faithfulness to the word of God.
Indeed, godly people demonstrate godliness in all things. Chief of them is
kindness to all! Knowledge of God is referring to the understanding of the
Scriptures.
Hosea's
warning is true for us as well. Our society deteriorates. There's no knowledge
of God, no faithfulness, and no kindness. Let's watch ourselves how we talk and
treat the vendors, auto drivers, shopkeepers, all people. Where is our
kindness? That kindness is a result of God's word working in us by the Spirit.
That's why we read God's word daily and put up an update in this group that His
words may have an effect on us.
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟝:𝟙𝟝
"I
will go away and return to My place 𝕌ℕ𝕋𝕀𝕃 they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In
their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."
What
a beautiful word "until" is in this judgment! There's a limit to
God's judgment because He is merciful. God is not like a man who loses his
temper. God is totally cool and under complete control! He punishes his sinning
people so that they may realize that the way of a transgressor is hard, and
true happiness is found in obedience to Him. That they have to acknowledge:
their sins and desire to walk with God.
Indeed,
ice cream is nice, sin is sweet, but God is sweeter!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟞:𝟞
"For
I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather
than burnt offerings."
God
wants us to be faithful. To be loyal to Him. To walk with Him. To obey Him. To
stick with Him. Like a wife sticks with her husband. To love only Him. To adore
only Him. A wife can hang out with other men in a workplace, and a wife can
love other men, but never as she would with her husband.
And
to be faithful, one needs the knowledge of God. We must know what God hates and
what pleases Him, and be obedient to that!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟟:𝟙𝟞
"They
turn, 𝔹𝕦𝕥 ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕌𝕡𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕, They are like a deceitful bow; Their princes will
fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their
derision in the land of Egypt."
Our
cry, our sadness, our wailing, and our pain should drive us upward, to God.
Recognizing God is above all, that He is able to save us, that He is our
solution, that He has a good (the best) plan for us, that His ways we shall
accept!
Alas!
The Israelites didn't turn upward. Their turnings were all without a benefit!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟠:𝟙𝟚
"Though
I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, They are regarded as a strange
thing."
The
same could be said of our generation, church, and even us individually. There
shall be no excuses in the days of the Lord.
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟡:𝟙𝟜
"Give
them, O LORD--what will You give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry
breasts."
Look!
What's Prophet Hosea doing? He is cursing (making an imprecatory prayer) his
people for their unfaithfulness!
How
shall I curse those who are unfaithful in our (this) WhatsApp group, who
refused to keep their commitment? 😬😆😂😎 Actually, there's one group, where I did it! 😎 He was so lazy. So, I had wished for him that every girl
will reject his marriage proposal this year, that every girl he approaches will
turn him down until he is responsible enough to lead his wife in
sanctification! Will happen soon in this group as well! 😂😎
Btw,
there's no reason one cannot put up one Bible verse at least for one day in
this group within these 30 days!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟙𝟘:𝟙
"Israel
is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The
more altars he made; The richer his land, The better he made the sacred
pillars."
If
we aren't familiar with the biblical vocabulary, we will think this is a good
verse. Actually, this is a tragic verse! The "altars" and
"sacred pillars" are referring to the idolatry of the people. So, the
meaning is, the more they prosper, they forget God, they depart from God, and they
live like the other nations.
Again
and again, from the first commandment of the Mosaic Ten Commandments, the
Scriptures reveal how much God hates, despises, loathes idolatry.
Do
you go to a party when you get your salary, or to a movie hall? Well, next
time, think about what you are doing and see, if you have become more like the
Israelites!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟙𝟙:𝟠
"How
can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make
you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over
within Me, All My compassions are kindled."
This
is the God who has also loved us and made us His children! If the Father loves
us so much, may we keep loving our family members of faith without giving up! 👍🙏
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟙𝟚:𝟙
"Ephraim
feeds on wind, And pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and
violence. Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria, And oil is carried to
Egypt."
Wow!
Look at the imagery! It's totally a worthless and useless endeavor! What's
their fault? Not depending on God.
Friends,
a life lived without God is a worthless life! C. T. Stud is right, "Only
one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last."
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟙𝟛:𝟡
'It
is your destruction, O Israel, That you are against Me, against your
help."
He
that quarrels with his Maker is a miserable man! He who does not delight in God
is living a hard life. There were times when I didn't delight in God, and when
I even quarreled with the Lord. Well, God's Grace is real too!
ℍ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕒 𝟙𝟜:𝟡
"Whoever
is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know
them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them,
But transgressors will stumble in them."
I
have seen in real life that the way of a transgressor is hard.