Seeing things from another person’s perspective often adds appreciation and insight. In this passage, I continue to see false worship from God’s perspective.
Read Hosea 8-14
Read Hosea 8-14
I have read thru the Bible before, and every time I do I begin to weary of the warnings to repent and return at about this point. It’s only because as we read these prophetic, historical accounts we are getting the condensed version. Years went by in between these prophecies, so they were spread out over about 100 years or so. Not only that, but not every prophet spoke to the same people…so no one was hearing exactly what you are reading today. Some heard Isaiah, others heard Hosea or Jeremiah, or Micah. Of course, some heard the same message from several prophets, so the whole nation was aware that all the prophets were saying the same thing. It was simply less than what we are absorbing as we read.
Anyway, as I blog through the Old Testament by this point “I get it”. Israel has forsaken God and turned to worship false gods, and God is angry (furious) with them and plans to punish them. His chosen form of punishment is slavery brought about by a powerful invading army that will take the people away from their homeland.
Here’s what I see today: Two things, really.
First, I see the whole history of Israel from God’s perspective. This is helpful to me, actually. From time to time I will get involved in a project that is already underway, and suggest changes without knowing how the project has developed beforehand. Consequently, my suggestions may be off-putting or misoriented. Sort of like a person who offers you advice on how and when to discipline your child without knowing you or your child.
Anyway, as I am reading I begin to see God as a father. A father who has watched his son being born, and was so happy to hold him for the first time, experiencing that joy as his voice made his young son smile. Then, as his child grew he began to teach him all the things he needed to know. how to recite the alphabet, how to read, how to dress himself and tie his own shoes. Even later, the lessons about how to share toys, play with other kids, how to behave when riding the school bus, going to church, even eventually helping with homework, meeting girls, and perhaps advice on dating. “Dad” has been there for all of it. He has provided a home, food and constant good advice. He has protected his son when the bullies advanced, and when the school teachers became a little too harsh. Dad has helped find a good job, paid for college and helped build the new home.
So you can imagine Dad’s surprise when on Father’s Day, his son buys a fairly expensive present and gives it to a drug dealer down the street who has never had children of his own. The son begins to tell all his friends that this delinquent is responsible for all the good things he has. Even as Dad pays a bill, or stops by to mow the yard, the other guy gets all the credit. How long is anyone going to put up with that? Israel is somewhere beyond that transgression in their false worship. In Israel north, they are literally kissing the calf idol and thanking it for all that it has done for them. “Thank you calf, for the harvest. thank you for healing my daughter, and protecting my family…” You have got to be kidding me.
Is it any wonder God is furious? Just thinking like this makes me pray spontaneously that I never, ever do anything like this. In my imagination, can see the drug dealer smiling in my direction from a distance, smugly satisfied in the knowledge that he is tearing my family apart. Oh, and by the way….he has turned my son into an addict who now needs his product every day, and he has begun to abuse my son, who puts up with it because he needs drugs. And, to make matters even worse….the drug dealer has my son believing that I am the enemy. So my son refuses to talk to me, blaming me for all the terrible things that have happened in his life.
This is the condition of Israel as they worship false gods.
Secondly, I see how much God still loves His son, which baffles me quite frankly. If this scenario were true of my family I don’t think I would have this much compassion. But God’s love is pure and perfect, and He loves fully, not partially like us. God’s love isn’t contingent upon our obedience (His blessings are..but his love is not). God loves us in spite of our imperfections and addictions. But His patience isn’t unlimited in this area…He clearly has set some time limits for us to respond to him. And for those who accept Him as children, and receive adoption into His home, the requirements are really quite simple…obey what you have been commanded. Love others as I have loved you. Worship me, and me alone.
Time has run out for Israel. And it really makes me both sad and angry at their behavior. I guess my prayer is that the same is never true of me.
Faithfully,
PR