Thoughts for the Day

Israel’s Apostasy

They made kings, but not through me;
they set up princes, but without my knowledge.
With their silver and gold they made idols
for their own destruction.
Your calf is rejected, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of innocence?
For it is from Israel,
an artisan made it;
it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
shall be broken to pieces.

For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads,
it shall yield no meal;
if it were to yield,
foreigners would devour it...

When Ephraim multiplied altars to expiate sin,
they became to him altars for sinning.
Though I write for him the multitude of my instructions,
they are regarded as a strange thing.
Though they offer choice sacrifices,
though they eat flesh,
the Lord does not accept them.
Now he will remember their iniquity,
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We began to look at Hosea yesterday. The prophet is a living parable, his wife is unfaithful but he loves her still, and this is symbolic of the way that God loves his people but still they are unfaithful to Him. In the intervening chapters between yesterdays passage and todays we see that Goma, Hosea’s wife is put on probation, and for some time we see that Israel too is put on probation. For a while the nation of Israel turns back to God, but it does not last.

Real faith in God should show in obedience to His laws. Instead the people turned to pagan gods like Baal, or took to worshipping two golden calf statues at Bethel and Dan set up by King Jeroboam (1 Kings 12.26-30). This brought in its wake various abhorrent practices, like ritual prostitution, as well as the breakdown of law and order in society. The priests who failed to make God's laws known and who had feathered their own nests, along with the men of Israel, are those whom God will hold responsible for what has happened. A generation has grown up to whom God is a stranger. Nothing, Hosea claims, can save them from God's judgement.

Society today may not worship a golden calf but it has other idols that call us away from God. Think of the things that many simply cannot do without, for example: social media, drink, cigarettes, gossip, Facebook, gambling ........! The list is endless, and we Christians are not immune from such influences. Each of us will have our own idols. Be honest for a moment, what are the most important things in your life, those things that you cannot do without, and which are less than healthy influences? Then stop for a moment to ask for God's help to re-align your priorities.

Almighty God,
Hosea castigated the people about their worship of pagan gods,
and the practices associated with them,
calling them to return to the Law of Moses,
and the worship of You the one true God.
Your Son brought us fresh hope for forgiveness,
but we too live lives that are far from perfect.
Help us to re-evaluate our priorities
in the light of Your words as envisioned by Hosea,,
rather than follow the dictates of society.
Amen.