Hosea 7 - 11 - "Who Are You Trusting In?"

Click HERE to read the passage.

Since these are short chapters we can really cover some ground. 

Sadly, Israel's sin remains the focus of hosea's prophecy. The nation's inigquity is like a raging fire. Her rebellion has weakened her to the point of spiritual stupor She is beyond realize who God is or what He has done for her.

Like a deer caught in a bob-wired fence void of any way out of the situation except for the farmer who's desperately trying to help but gaining no cooperation from the deer, this is what has become of Israel. God wants to bring them peace and joy, but He asks that they become obedient servants of His. However, no matter how bad it gets for them, they reject His offer for help.

God Sees It All

Chapter 7 begins with a rude awakening for ALL of us!  No matter how quiet we are about our sin or how remote we might be, God sees all that we're doing - at all times!  In chapter 7:2, God tries to inform these spiritual blind people that He's an Omniscient God with the ability to see ALL that's happening. Listen to what He says, "They do not consider in their hearts; That I remember all their wickedness; Now their own deeds have surrounded them; They are before My face."

In verse 7, God laments that "none" of the kings of Israel cry out to Him for help!  This reminds me of those within the halls of Congress, do they realize how badly they and our nation need God and how important it is to uphold His laws - not theirs?

Israel has become so corrupt that they consider the prophet and priest a joke.  In 9:7 God says, "The prophet is a fool, The spiritual man is insane,"  Can you imagine today considering the Pope or any pastor or Christian teacher a scum bag?  Unfortunately, we are beginning to see that day begin to play its hand.

Who Are You Trusting?

In chapter 10:13, God brings a very valuable thing to consider, "You have plowed wickedness;

You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men."

How often we trust more in ourselves or others than we do God.  What about you?  What are you trusting God for right now?  Are you trusting Him at all?

The book of Hosea is a powerful reminder of God's unconditional love and unrelenting pursuit of his people, despite their repeated disobedience and infidelity. Hosea 7-11 speaks to the heart of our human struggle, the tension between our desire to follow God and our tendency to go our own way. In Hosea 7, God speaks to his people, confronting them with their sin and their lack of repentance. He reminds them of the consequences of their disobedience, warning of the punishment they will face as a result of their choices. But God's message is not only one of judgment; it is also a message of hope. For he promises that if his people will turn back to him, he will heal their land and restore their relationship with him. In Hosea 8, we see the consequences of the people's refusal to turn back to God. They continue to worship false gods, and they trust in their own strength and resources rather than in the Lord. The result is destruction and devastation, as the Assyrians invade their land and destroy their cities. Yet even in the midst of this devastation, Hosea offers hope. For God promises to forgive and restore his people if they will repent and turn back to him. In Hosea 9-10, we see the depth of God's love for his people, even in the face of their continued disobedience. He is like a loving parent who disciplines his children for their good, but never stops loving them. And he promises that if they will turn back to him, he will bless them abundantly, and they will experience the fullness of his love and grace. Finally, in Hosea 11, we see the heights and depths of God's love for his people. He speaks of his deep affection for them, of his heart breaking over their sin and their rejection of him. And yet, even in this pain, God's love never fades. For he promises that he will not give up on his people, that he will continue to pursue them with his love and his grace until they come back to him. As we read these powerful words, we are reminded of the depth of God's love for us. No matter how far we stray, how often we fall short, God's love never fades. He is always there, always reaching out to us, always offering us his forgiveness and his grace. And if we will turn back to him, he will heal our land, restore our relationship with him, and bless us beyond measure.