Good Morning “Living Sacrifices.” Today we begin Hosea with chapter 1.
Review: The book of Daniel took place during Judahs Exile in Babylon - about the time of Ezekiel. Through the last couple books we’ve been mostly focusing on the southern tribes of Israel referred to as Judah.
As we look at Hosea, understand we are stepping back in time now to 8th Century BC. Hosea is one of Gods Prophet to the 10 northern tribes referred to as Israel. Israel is a mess. The people of Israel have embraced the worship of Baal, even bringing shrine prostitutes into the mix.
Hosea’s own life becomes a metaphor for Gods intentions for Israel as He commands Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman Gomer. She is symbolic of Israel’s wavering faithfulness to The Lord. The 2nd longer part of Hosea alternates between hope and doom as God through Hosea pleads with and threatens Israel in her last days before being conquered and taken into exile by Assyria.
As a prophet of God, we gotta believe Hosea was a pretty decent guy. So why would God command him to marry a woman that is going to bring him pain and heartache? This is a question that messes with our “God only blesses” categories. Hosea must have done something to deserve punishment?
Consider this… Maybe God was calling Hosea to suffer simply to serve as an example for those to come. Are we willing to be used in that way? What if God was calling Hosea to suffer NOT as punishment for sin, but so He could later reward His righteous obedience?
So easily we forget that suffering is also part of Gods Grace to us… for it is through suffering that we grow, mature and become complete (James 1:2-4).
God had a Message for Israel. It was a Message He apparently could only get across through a faithful man such as Hosea. We’ve seen this before. Consider Job, or Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel or Daniel. All faithful. All suffered to get Gods Message across to His people (us included).
“Look Pastor, I’m willing to be used by God… but really only in a showered with blessing kind of way. I don’t know if I’m still willing if it requires suffering, persecution, maybe even perhaps physical death.”
Is that our heart attitude? Or do we trust Him enough to say yes no matter what? THATS kind of what being a “living sacrifice” is all about (Romans 12:1).
Check Paul’s attitude toward Gods Grace in this way (Ephesians 3:1-13, Philippians 1:29, II Corinthians 1:3-11, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33). Through Jesus and His strength we can endure all things (Philippians 4:12-13, Hebrews 12:3-11).
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
Review: The book of Daniel took place during Judahs Exile in Babylon - about the time of Ezekiel. Through the last couple books we’ve been mostly focusing on the southern tribes of Israel referred to as Judah.
As we look at Hosea, understand we are stepping back in time now to 8th Century BC. Hosea is one of Gods Prophet to the 10 northern tribes referred to as Israel. Israel is a mess. The people of Israel have embraced the worship of Baal, even bringing shrine prostitutes into the mix.
Hosea’s own life becomes a metaphor for Gods intentions for Israel as He commands Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman Gomer. She is symbolic of Israel’s wavering faithfulness to The Lord. The 2nd longer part of Hosea alternates between hope and doom as God through Hosea pleads with and threatens Israel in her last days before being conquered and taken into exile by Assyria.
As a prophet of God, we gotta believe Hosea was a pretty decent guy. So why would God command him to marry a woman that is going to bring him pain and heartache? This is a question that messes with our “God only blesses” categories. Hosea must have done something to deserve punishment?
Consider this… Maybe God was calling Hosea to suffer simply to serve as an example for those to come. Are we willing to be used in that way? What if God was calling Hosea to suffer NOT as punishment for sin, but so He could later reward His righteous obedience?
So easily we forget that suffering is also part of Gods Grace to us… for it is through suffering that we grow, mature and become complete (James 1:2-4).
God had a Message for Israel. It was a Message He apparently could only get across through a faithful man such as Hosea. We’ve seen this before. Consider Job, or Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel or Daniel. All faithful. All suffered to get Gods Message across to His people (us included).
“Look Pastor, I’m willing to be used by God… but really only in a showered with blessing kind of way. I don’t know if I’m still willing if it requires suffering, persecution, maybe even perhaps physical death.”
Is that our heart attitude? Or do we trust Him enough to say yes no matter what? THATS kind of what being a “living sacrifice” is all about (Romans 12:1).
Check Paul’s attitude toward Gods Grace in this way (Ephesians 3:1-13, Philippians 1:29, II Corinthians 1:3-11, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33). Through Jesus and His strength we can endure all things (Philippians 4:12-13, Hebrews 12:3-11).
Love you all! Dig in and live it out!
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