When you die?

What happens when I die?

This is a question that many people ask, especially people who are seriously ill and could be facing death soon.

Dr. Maurice Rawlings results for study on near-death encounters. Despite that people often talk about "white light" about ½ people who experience out-of-body encounters have visions of hell instead of heaven....many sources do not report this information.

Mark Twain, said that there are "only two things that are sure, death and taxes"

Jesus the expert on eternity – see what it says about Him in Eph 4:8-9 Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." 9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? NASU

Matt 10:28-29 28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. NASU

Many willing to believe in "heaven" or "good" after death and yet they are unwilling to think there are is a "hell" or "torment" after death.

There is life after death for all, even if you don’t think there is but the thing we must face is where will be spend our eternity.

Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth and the life, no one come to the Father but through me" John 14: 6

If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins, then you are facing eternity in hell. If you want to avoid hell.

A— Admit you are a sinner.
B–– Believe that Jesus died to pay the price of your sins.
C— Confess your sins and invite Jesus into your life.

Do it today!

Hypocrites Inside!

Many people are upset that when they do go to church they see it has hypocrites inside?

Why is the church full of Hypocrites?

Well first we need to understand

• That no one can stand hypocrites....not even Jesus.
• One of the very purposes that God has in founding the church is to bring the "hypocrites" in.
• People are people and are always needing to learn.
• The church is there for sinners (hypocrites).

Disobedience is not an valid excuse though, we must see to learn the truth. We also need to understand that just because we see one hypocrite it does not make all Christian’s hypocrites.

Look to Jesus has your example. He is the only one who is perfect. James 5:12 says, " But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment." NASU

Today we see again that we must consider our own actions. We must consider if we are obedient to God’s commands and let God deal with others we find disobedient.

What about People Who Never Heard?

Our family has taken a number of flights during our years of missionary service with Trans World Radio on Guam. On of the first things they do on every flight is give you instruction on what to do if a plane loses cabin pressure or some other emergency.

First things we were told was to take care of yourself. If you don’t "put on the mask" or "life jacket" you will not be able to save others. This truth applies to those who earn the gospel.

Here are a couple of principles we need to apply.

• You have heard, worry about yourself first. In any emergency situation you need to make sure you are able to help. If you are injured and fail to get treatment you will not be able to help other.
• Be more concern with those who have heard but not responded. Many people have heard and haven’t believed, they are in danger of punishment just as much as people have never heard the truth
• Romans 1:19 tells us that God has made it plain to all (maybe not all the details but enough for them to respond to Him). They have heard!
• Jesus said, Matt 24:14, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The goal in our life must be two fold. If you have heard the gospel and have fail to believe then you must face this truth and decide to believe.

If you have believed the gospel, receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you MUST tell others. We have a obligation to tell those we meet and know.

Newly Engaged

And then there were none. Well, that isn't really true. Actually we are about to add one more to the family. Charles has gotten engaged to Caroline White and the couple is talking about a Spring wedding.

We say WELCOME to the family to Caroline.

For Weak People

Have you ever had someone say that Christianity is for those who are weak and need help in the world?

Why would people think that Christianity is for weaklings? Sadly, in the culture in America it is easy to say "I am a Christian" and then live as you please. They are weak in that they really don’t act like they believe like that speak. These individuals are trying to be strong in their own effort and yet they fail.

• True believes are willing to die for their faith
• Fake believes want an easier path
  

Yes, to the world true believers may look like they are not standing on their own two feet but what is harder is to trust and obey the Lord. This obedience can (not always) come at great price to their own well being. It can even mean losing their life for their faith.

Having spent a number of years oversees I had the opportunity to meet or hear of individuals who spent years in prison for their faith, suffered harmful situations because they refused to deny that Jesus was real or endure hardship so that they could learn and study the Word of God.

Is Christianity for weak people? If we say "We will not see heaven without receiving Christ" then yes, Christianity is for weaklings. If we are saying Christian’s don’t have the "back bone" to stand up for anything then NO. True believes have the strength to suffer for their faith. They are not weak people.

Will God REALLY Send Me to Hell?

If we want to be truthful this is the question many people who have never asked Jesus to be their Savior are really asking themselves. After all the Bible says "God loved the World".

Folks don’t want to hear.... "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father but through me". John 14:6 (emphasis mine).

We must deal with a few issues that arise out of these thoughts.

1. Either my way or forced salvation.
2. God lays out the plan for people to accept (Matt 7:13)
3. Starting with Adam & Eve God allowed the choice between good and evil
   

God allows us to go astray and be disobedient. We will face judgement one day.

God created a "perfect world" Evil and suffering are a result of Adam’s sin.
Romans 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Holy Bible, NLT

Until you ask Jesus to forgive you your sins, YES He will send you to Hell. Not because He wants to be because you chose not to follow His commands.

Follow these simple steps (yes... it is that easy)

1. Admit you are a sinner (we are all born sinners)
2. Ask Jesus to forgive those sins.
3. Ask Jesus to come into your life.

If you done this... write a comment and let me know.

I recommend that you find a church that Believes that the Bible to TRUE! Study the Bible and follow His Truth.

What is the Point of Problems?

Often I like to start these writings with some thought provoking question but today I want to simply say "I don’t know the answer to question I proposed in the title." There could be a number of possibilities but since God is God He can do what pleases Him.

Things to ponder.

1. C.S. Lewis "God whispers to us in our pleasures, He speaks to us in our conscience, but He shouts to us in our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
2. God send the rain on the just and unjust (Matt 5:45)
3. Olympians push through the pain of working muscles to come away with the gold medal. Sometimes God pushes through the pain of experiences so that we will be refined. Deut 31:17 17 " Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will come upon them; so that they will say in that day, ' Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?' NASU
4. James 1:2-4 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NASU
5. 1 Peter 1:5-9 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. NASU

In several ways we can see that God works in ways we cannot understand. In Isaiah 55:9 God is telling us "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts." NASU

God doesn’t think like you or me and He is not required to explain Himself.

Realize that God loves you! Seek to obey Him! Trust that even when we don’t understand His desire and perfect will is best!

Did God Create Evil?

Often we things go wrong in life there is a thought that somehow God had a hand in creating the evil. There are a couple of things I would like us to look at today.

First, Jesus tells us that in the world there will be tribulation but note that He tells us that He has overcome these things.. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

God created us with the ability to choose between right and wrong. Gen 2:15-17 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." NASU

Adam & Eve didn’t need to know about evil. God did not create evil, He did create the potential for evil, Adam & Eve chose the "off-limits" option.

God created a "perfect world" Evil and suffering are a result of Adam’s sin Romans 5: 12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Holy Bible, NLT

Result: Rom 8:21-25 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. NASU

But why let this happen? "Young couples often wrestle with the potential for birth defects and other dangers as they weight the decision to have children. Most choose to go ahead in spite of the risks. Why? Because of a desire to have a relationship with someone in their own image. God made the same choice. God did not create evil. He did create the potential for evil to enter the world, because it was the only way He could create the potential for genuine goodness and genuine love. But it was human beings, in our own free will, who brought the potential evil into reality.

I hope that today that God did not create the evil in the world. He did however give His so that we could receive the gift of eternal life in heaven (where there will be no evil).

How Can a Good God Allow Suffering?

Many people who experience suffering (or know someone who experience suffering) struggle with the truth about God. They really as asking some form of the questions below.
If God is all knowing, then He is aware of everything that goes on. If He si all powerful, then He can prevent or correct anything bad. And if He is completely loving, then He cares about everything that goes on. So, why is there suffering in the world? (Hal Seed & Dan Grider, The God Question, 2007 Outreach Publications)

Here is why they struggle.
1. All knowing / all powerful but lacks love (this god lacks compassion)
2. All powerful/all loving but lacks ability to know everything going on (this god is blind)
3. All loving/ all knowing but lacks the power to prevent evil (this god is weak)

The book of Job gives us some insight to some issues. Jobs friends says face it Job, you have sinned and that is why you are suffering. God answers in ch...38-40 and condemns friends for lack of compassion
Look at God’s perspective, "is that He alone is God".....Job’s reply... "surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know...Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes

God does not expect us to completely understand suffering. He wants us to trust Him.

As long as you try, right?

So many times when people talk about getting to heaven they believe it is "good intentions" it all that really matters when it comes to whether or not they (or anyone else) gets into heaven. But to really get any true idea we need to see what Jesus has to say about that issue.

John 14:4-6 4 "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU

We can see that Jesus clearly tells us (those are not my words) that good intention do not matter at all. It has to be obedience to what Jesus says. Jesus also warns us that Satan’s goal is to deceive anyway he can John 8:44-47 44 " You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 " He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." NASU

Billy Graham says "There are many religions in the world, but only one Christianity, for only Christianity has a God who gave Himself for mankind. World religions attempt to reach up to God; Christianity is God reaching down to man."

Titus 3:5-7 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. NASU

The question you must ask yourself today is a simply one. "Do you think "a good effort" is all that is necessary to get to heaven"? If this is what you have been depending upon to get to heaven you have seen today that this is no correct. You need to admit you are a sinner, ask you to forgive you of your sins and come into your life.

Check it Out

Enjoyable Song

Can You Trust the Bible?

Things have been a little "crazy" over the past few weeks so I haven't been getting to the blog like I had hoped. I've been assisting in our church plant at Cape May Court House, NJ so that means ferry trips and several days away from home during those times.

One to our topic.

Can you trust the Bible?

The Bible was written over 1500 year span in three different languages (in originals).

See what the Bible says about this.

2 Peter 1:20-21 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.


2 Tim 3:15-17 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. NASU

God used man to write His Word.

The Bible has been around longer than any other book. There are more copies in more languages all over the world.

You can find that the things that the Bible speaks about from the beginnning to the end still works in our lives today.

If you compare the evidence in archaeology with what is found recorded in the scriptures you will find many things that have been told about in the scritpture that are confirmed through archaology.

There is also evidence in science (www.reasons.org).

What you need to do is not be afraid to examine the Scriptures and evidence that is out there in the world. There are several books that will be helpful in this search. Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh Mcdowell, A Case for Christ by Lee Stobel or Choosing Your Faith In a World of Spiritual Options by Mark Mittelberg. Any of these and others will prove helpful in your search.


Luke 12:29-31 29 "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not A keep worrying. 30 "For 1 all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 "But seek His kingdom, and A these things will be added to you. NASU

Do be afraid to seek the Truth.

First Night Bible Study in Cape May Court House

Exciting times for our first Bible Study in Cape May Court House.

October Praise and Prayer

Dear Prayer Warriors,

This past month the Church Plantings met for our training day, we all were reminded the need to uphold you in our prayers as you uphold us in your prayer. This reminder returned to me this morning during my devotions.

Paul says in Philippians 1: 3-5 "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now."

I too, thank the Lord for you and pray for you as God brings you to my mind. I thank God for your participation in the Gospel from the first day until now!

Praises

• New Life has seen increased growth in weekly attendance and just added 13 new members this past week. PTL!
• Follow up contacts in Milford have proved encouraging. (more surveys must be done)
• Support level has remained steady despite the economic challenge supporters are facing (we are averaging 90%)
• Safe trips to Cape May and opportunities to help strengthen that ministry

Pray

• For ministry surveys that need to be completed in Milford. (rainy weather on scheduled days has disrupted the process) We are planning for our next survey on October 11th. And at least one more in October.
• For outreach and preaching in Cape May over the next several months.
• Open doors to develop a Bible Study in the target area of Milford. Pray that God would bring 20 people together for this study. (If you know someone who might be interested in Milford area, please send their contact information to us)
• For Brian's salvation. Each time I talk with him I can see the spiritual struggle taking place in this young man's life. Pray that God will draw this man to salvation.
• For the weekly radio ministry that I am able to do here in Delaware. This is a "Doo-wop" station so doing teaching between the music is a great opportunity to reach those who do not know Christ.
• Wisdom to help Cape May develop their "New Movers" Outreach program. This program has proved successful in several of our church plants.
  

Your Partners in Missions,

Ray & Louise Bertolet


Find Ray on Facebook

No Either/Or With Jesus

Who would you say Jesus was? There are some who call Jesus a "good man," others would say "he was a kind of prophet or teacher". What I want to say is if any of that is true that Jesus was either a liar or lunatic.

C.S. Lewis said, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would be a lunatic — on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg ---- or else he would be the Devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something else (Mere Christianity)

Look at some of the things Jesus said.

Matt 12:6 "But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here NASU

Here Jesus is saying He is "greater then the temple"

Matt 16:16-17 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. NASU

Here He says His father is in Heaven

Matt 23:37-38 37 " Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. NASU

Here, He wants to gather people like a hen gather chicks.

John 14:5-6 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU

Here He says, He is the ONLY way to get to the Father in Heaven.

The problem with these statements is this, they are either true (and you must believe and respond accordingly) or they are false and Jesus is a great big liar and fraud.

How will you decide? You don’t get an either/or choice with Jesus. You must choose to obey Him completely or say He is a liar.

True or False – Jesus is the Son of God!
I believe the Bible clearly point to this being TRUE.

Who gave you a Moral Compass?

What is the first thing that comes to your mind if I ask you to tell me one thing that you would find offensive? Are you offended when you hear that a child was abused? How about if someone was killed because of a drunk driver?

So where did you get your morality? Why are you offended?

I want to suggest to you that you got your morality because there is a moral law giver. (I believe that that giver is God.

When we are talking some social issues, (drinking, smoking, abortions, etc.) we hear people say "Well that is your opinion".Yet those same people have things that they think people are wrong for other to do. Why is that?

Rom 2:15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, NASU

What we are seeing from this verse there are things written on you heart (morals).
So who wrote this on you heart? (Yes, I believe that God wrote them)

So next time you say, "that is soooooo wrong" think! Why do I think that is wrong. Society isn’t the one who set your moral compass.

God did!

Is God Real?

There are people who are questioning if "God is Real". Today we want to begin a journey of dealing with this question. It is not my desire or intention to "convict" you that God is real but to challenge you to examine clues that (I believe God) are evident in our world.

I would also like to point you to several books/authors that have provided information and which you can use in your own journey of searching. Please understand, I am asking you to actually do "homework" and not simply accept what is said. Not what I say, or other people who may think that there is no God.

I trust that you will be curious to search for truth.

Is God Real?

Here are two verses that we should read.
Ps 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. NASU
Ps 139:14-16 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. NASU

Choosing Faith Points Mark Mittelberg

• Point 1-Design in the universe points to an Intelligent Designer (p164)
• Point 2-Fine tuning in the universe points to intentional Fine Tuner-p168
• Point 3-Information encoded into DNA points to Divine Encoder-p171

Mark Mittelberg, Choosing Your Faith In a World of Spiritual Options, (Carol Streams, Illinois, Tyndale House Publications) ©2008

A couple of quick question as you read these verses.

1. Who but the clouds in the sky?
2. Who made the dirt/sand you walk on?
3. Who made the air that you breath?

Notice the three points to consider by Mark. I understand that scientists discovered DNA but we must consider how it became a part of who we are and how it got there.

Stop Stumbling Around

If you have a bad crack in your side walk that would cause you to stumble you would fix it. When putting stair in homes in the 1800's, it was some carpenters practice to put in a "trip step" to cause someone to stumble on the way up the steps during the night. The whole purpose of the "trip step" was to catch someone who tried to sneak up the steps. But the reality of all this if something keeps making us trip and stumble we would take steps to fix it.

Our spiritual journey is not something we can simply fix. It takes the hand of God upon our hearts and lives. He is willing to remove those "trip steps" that we installed because of our sinful disobedience. God tells to return, you are stumbling because of sin. He invites them to remove that sin so that there will be worthwhile fruit.

God reminds them (and us) that worldly leadership or our own efforts do not save us. Only He can bring about that true change.


Hosea 14
1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, " Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips. 3 "Assyria will not save us, We will not ride on horses; Nor will we say again, ' Our god,'To the work of our hands; For in You the orphan finds mercy." 4 I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. 6 His shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. 7 Those who live in his shadow Will again raise grain, And they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; From Me comes your fruit. 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. NASU

God loves YOU! FREELY! He is calling you to choose wisely. Stop stubbing your toes and ask the Lord to help remove that stumbling block.

Explore for Yourself!

What "cry" does God have for Israel? How will they know what to do?
What statement is God looking for from them? List the steps.
What will result from true repentance?
What will they truly understand?
What will God do for Israel when they repent correctly?
Why does God use things in nature to describe His actions?
What does He ask Ephraim regarding idols?
Who has answered and looked after them? Why make this statement?
How will they know a wise individual? What is the "these things" in verse 9?
What is discernment?
How can we distinguish between righteous and transgressors?
Why do you think the Lord closed with that statement?

Why?

With today being 9/11 I want to ask two questions. First, where we you when you learned of the events for 9/11? Second, I will ask the questions that many ask, Why, did God allow this to happen?

I can tell you where I was when I heard "I actually saw them" the events unfold. I was sitting in a hotel room in Singapore watch the CNN news after return from a full day of meetings with fellow Trans World Radio missionaries.

The second question, truthfully, NO ONE can answer. I can tell you this, the events of that day are not because God is mad or getting back at America. First we must understand that when God created the earth He made provision for evil. Unfortunately, that evil came into existence and what we saw that day (and days before and after) is a result of that evil.

I find it interesting that many people who question "why God allowed those events?" of doubt that God is real. It seems to me that God is only real when A) we want to blame Him or B) we need to pray for some relief from a tragic event.

In the days and week ahead I plan to begin discussion the question "Is God Real" and other related topics. Hopefully, you will check back and even offer up your questions/comment during the course of this discussion.

Something to chew on!

Isa 40:13-14
13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
Or as His counselor has informed Him?
14 With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding?
And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge
And informed Him of the way of understanding? NASU


Rom 11:33-36 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. NASU

1 Cor 2:16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? NASU

Now What?

There were lessons that I learned growing up. This were "you got what you deserved". Ouch, I wanted dad and mom to step in a stop the heart ache but they didn’t because they understood that I would learn more for life if I experience some "pain" during growing up.

God is doing the same here with Israel. He is telling them because of their disobedience, they will face destruction. He reminds them that they asked for king’s and prince’s. "Where are they" "Why don’t they help you?", these are the things that God is asking.

The tragedy that falls upon Israel is not God’s fault. God allowed this evil to come but He left the chose up to man.

Hos 13:9-16
9 It is your destruction, O Israel, That you are against Me, against your help. 10 Where now is your king That he may save you in all your cities, And your judges of whom you requested,"Give me a king and princes"? 11 I gave you a king in My anger And took him away in My wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; His sin is stored up. 13 The pains of childbirth come upon him; He is not a wise son, For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb. 14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.
15 Though he flourishes among the reeds, An east wind will come, The wind of the Lord coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will become dry And his spring will be dried up; It will plunder his treasury of every precious article. 16 Samaria will be held guilty, For she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, Their little ones will be dashed in pieces, And their pregnant women will be ripped open. NASU

Choose today who you will obey, yourself or God.

Explore for yourself.

Who are they fighting? Why does God ask about their kings and judges?
Because of asking for kings and judges, what has happened to Ephraim?
Tell what thought the LORD is pondering?
What will happen to Ephraim position and wealth?
What happens to Samaria who rebel against God? How does this concern us?
What warning should we get from this?

I'm It!

Saying that we care someone should best come along with examples of that care. Lord just finished reminding Israel how they have walked away but He also tells them that despite their disobedience or run towards idols. He points to all the ways that He has provide, protected and rescued them from themselves.

So let me ask you this, can you "hear" the Lord saying these same things to you? Well He does? John 3:16 tells us of his love for us, how He sent His son!

Are you willing to accept God's help?

Hos 13:4-8
4 Yet I have been the Lord your God
Since the land of Egypt;
And you were not to know any god except Me,
For there is no savior besides Me.
5 I cared for you in the wilderness,
In the land of drought.
6 As they had their pasture, they became satisfied,
And being satisfied, their heart became proud;
Therefore they forgot Me.
7 So I will be like a lion to them;
Like a leopard I will lie in wait by the wayside.
8 I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs,
And I will tear open their chests;
There I will also devour them like a lioness,
As a wild beast would tear them. NASU

Explore for yourself.

How does the LORD describe Himself?
What will He be doing? What happened in the heart of Israel?
How is God going to respond to their unresponsive heart?

Big Month

How many times have we open our month and gotten ourselves into trouble. Whether it is a work or home we say things that upset others.

Ephraim spoke and people were afraid but all that talk also got them into trouble. The way that they exalted themselves just lead them further from God and involve themselves with worship of Baal.

Speaking bold and arrogant tends to force us make foolish choices. God will chose to set us aside and stand on our own foolishness and sadly we will learn how poorly we can stand on our own.

Hos 13:1-3
3 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.
He exalted himself in Israel,
But through Baal he did wrong and died.
2 And now they sin more and more,
And make for themselves molten images,
Idols skillfully made from their silver,
All of them the work of craftsmen.
They say of them, "Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!"
3 Therefore they will be like the morning cloud
And like dew which soon disappears,
Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor
And like smoke from a chimney. NASU

Explore for yourself.

What did Ephraim do? What happened to him?
What is increasing?
Why are they "like" the morning cloud or dew? What is a morning cloud?

Come Back

Where are you heading in life? Have you thought about that in you day to day routine? The Lord is telling the tales of Ephraim /Israel. He has shown that there is much to be disappointed with in Jacob’s life. His battles with God are well known. God call is for Israel to return to Him. Wait for Him, He desire to lead and guide them. But the reality that they don’t want to return to Him, they want to their own way.

The reality of their desire is God allows them to have your way. If your way was going to result in trouble and heartache would you really want your own way?

Your way, will result in the way of destruction. Jesus’ way is the way to the Father. Why not seek His way?


Hos 12:1-14
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. 2 The Lord also has a dispute with Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; He will repay him according to his deeds. 3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his maturity he contended with God. 4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel And there He spoke with us, 5 Even the Lord, the God of hosts, The Lord is His name. 6 Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually. 7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, He loves to oppress. 8 And Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors they will find in me No iniquity, which would be sin." 9 But I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, As in the days of the appointed festival. 10 I have also spoken to the prophets, And I gave numerous visions, And through the prophets I gave parables. 11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? Surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, Yes, their altars are like the stone heaps Beside the furrows of the field.
12 Now Jacob fled to the land of Aram, And Israel worked for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep. 13 But by a prophet the Lord brought Israel from Egypt, And by a prophet he was kept. 14 Ephraim has provoked to bitter anger; So his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him And bring back his reproach to him. NASU

Explore for Yourself

What does Ephraim feed on? What does this mean?
Who is the Lord disputing with? What is the outcome?
What did Jacob do?
What is Israel to do? Why? How?
How does Ephraim describe their situation?
How does God respond to them? What concern does God have?
Describe their sacrifices and alters.
How did Israel get out of Egypt? How were they kept?
What will happen to Israel?

Heartache to Heartcry

Watching ones children can be a wonderful thing in life. But, sometimes when those "wonderful" children reach a age of making decisions on their own they make some that bring heartache to the parent. The heartache is not simply in that they have gone their own way it is in that we have been so involved in helping them to learn that we are heart broken when we see that the decisions they chose to make will lead them to paths that will difficulty.

What do you do? Instead of being stirred to anger we can follow the lead of our God who says, "All my compassions are kindled." Rather than destroy, God will reach out to heal.

Have you walked away from God in your life? Are you afraid that His wrath is just waiting for you around the corner? Today, I hope that you have seen that rather than anger God has been stirred to compassion. God is reaching out to you. Don’t be like Israel with a cold hard heart.

Hos 11:1-12
1 When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2 The more they called them, The more they went from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to idols. 3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and fed them. 5 They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria — he will be their king Because they refused to return to Me. 6 The sword will whirl against their cities, And will demolish their gate bars And consume them because of their counsels. 7 So My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him. 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. 9 I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath. 10 They will walk after the Lord, He will roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come trembling from the west. 11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt And like doves from the land of Assyria; And I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord. 12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful. NASU

Explore for Yourself!

When did God love Israel? What happened after God called them "My Son"?
What did God do for them? How did they respond?
What will happen to their cities and gates?
How are they bent?
What is kindled within God despite Israel’s actions? What won’t He do?
What contrast does He describe?
Why does God say He is roaring? How is Ephraim and Israel responding?

Re: Prayer

I decided to copy my son's blog for today's post.

How your prayer life?
Robert Murray M’Cheyne, a Scottish pastor from the 1800s who died at the age of 29, has said, “What a man is alone on his knees before God, that he is, and no more.”
J.I. Packer, the renowned evangelical theologian, has stated, “I believe that prayer is the measure of the man, spiritually, in a way that nothing else is, so that how we pray is as important a question as we can every face.”

So how's your prayer life?

If it is true for the physical body that “you are what you eat” it is true for your spiritual life that without excluding the necessity of God’s Word: “you are what you pray.” What does your prayer life look like?
Posted by Tim Bertolet at 6:00 AM

No Till Christian?

I grew up on a very small farm "oversized garden". Each spring we spent turning the soil over, discing it and even running a harrow over it to make in soft and smooth. All that work was done just so that we could plant corn, and other vegetables as well as seeds for grain and hay. We wanted to give them the best opportunity for growth. Yes, it was hard work but it was worth it when all those veggies were being eaten at the table. Today, many farmers employ the "no-till" method. Simply placing the soil in the growth with minimal about of work done to soften the ground. While that works for seeds, it does work in the Christian life.

Spiritual growth requires hard work. The Lord is call Israel to break up the hard ground and seek the Lord. Get ready of good and not for evil. No farmer would spend his time preparing the soil simply to grow weeds. Why should be invest ourselves into something that does not bring glory to God.

Hosea 10:11-15 11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself. 12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. 13 You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors, 14 Therefore a tumult will arise among your people, And all your fortresses will be destroyed, As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle, When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. 15 Thus it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel will be completely cut off. NASU

Explore for yourself.

How is Ephraim like a trained Heifer? What does this mean to us today?
Who is bring this judgement? Why?
When you plow... "what"... you will reap.... "what"? What is the fruit produced?
What have they trusted in? What is the church today trusting? (Be careful with your answer)
Why would God choose to destroy our "fortresses"?
Why is the King being cut off at dawn?

Don't need God?

If the truth be known many of us do not like when someone tells us what to do. At work, home or even when we are on vacation, we hate it when others have a level of authority over us.

People today are proud to declare, they are their own master. No one tells me what to do! How sad, because there are many around us who could help us learn from there mistakes and wise choices. When we see this in little children we know how foolish this attitude can be because as adults we know there are many things that they don’t understand. This truth applies to us adults as well. Notice what Solomon tells us in Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. NASU

You are faced with a simple choice. Will you be wise and receive counsel from the Lord or will you say "I have no KING but ME!"

Hos 10:3-10
3 Surely now they will say, "We have no king, For we do not revere the Lord. As for the king, what can he do for us?" 4 They speak mere words, With worthless oaths they make covenants; And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria will fear For the calf of Beth-aven .Indeed, its people will mourn for it, And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it, Over its glory, since it has departed from it. 6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria As tribute to King Jareb; Ephraim will be seized with shame And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel. 7 Samaria will be cut off with her king Like a stick on the surface of the water. 8 Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars; Then they will say to the mountains,"Cover us!" And to the hills, "Fall on us!" 9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; There they stand! Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah? 10 When it is My desire, I will chastise them; And the peoples will be gathered against them When they are bound for their double guilt. NASU

Explore for yourself.

When the Lord is not "King" of our life how do we speak? (Israel was doing this)
Why were the people crying? What happens to Ephraim and Israel?
What is Samaria "like"?
What is taking place to the high places?
Why will Israel cry out for the mountains and hills to "cover them" and "fall on them"?

Rich Get Richer-NOT!

Now that is a phase that can challenge anyone. The rich get richer but the poor get poorer.
Hosea tells Israel that they are a luxuriant vine producing lots of fruit but, that is where the problem begins. Yes, they are "getting richer", yes they have more but it is those very things that have taken them further away from God. They have made more alters (places away from God to worship) and they have become faithless. Instead of seeing their success as coming from God they begin to see this as the works for their hands.

To often (but not always) this is what happens in our society today. I remember hearing the story of a conversation between a wealthy man and the country farmer. The country farmer was asked what else he would need to bring satisfaction to his life. He said, "I live off the land and what God provides for me and my family I have no other needs." The rich man was asked the same question, his reply was "MORE".

When we look to ourselves, there is never enough. The Lord was telling Israel that they have been looking to themselves and the result has been they have turned away from Him. He will break their alters.

Hos 10:1-2
10 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.
2 Their heart is faithless;
Now they must bear their guilt.
The Lord will break down their altars
And destroy their sacred pillars.
NASU

Let your heart be broken so that God can heal!

Explore for yourself.

How does God describe Israel?
What is the consequence of the fruit produced? How should this bring caution to our lives?
What happens when the heart goes astray?

Searching for the Good Stuff.

I remember as a child going out during the summer and picking wild raspberries. What a delight to come home with a kettle full of berries. Not simple because they tasted good but because I know what they would become. My mom would turn them into pies, and jellies. Yum, yum.
God is telling Israel He found then like wild grapes. He gather them in knowing what they could become but rather then yielding to the plans of God.

Now they are about to become something far worse.

Hos 9:10-10:1
10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;
I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season.
But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame,
And they became as detestable as that which they loved.
11 As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird —
No birth, no pregnancy and no conception!
12 Though they bring up their children,
Yet I will bereave them until not a man is left.
Yes, woe to them indeed when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I have seen,
Is planted in a pleasant meadow like Tyre;
But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter.
14 Give them, O Lord — what will You give?
Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15 All their evil is at Gilgal;
Indeed, I came to hate them there!
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of My house!
I will love them no more;
All their princes are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up,
They will bear no fruit.
Even though they bear children,
I will slay the precious ones of their womb.
17 My God will cast them away
Because they have not listened to Him;
And they will be wanderers among the nations. NASU

So now the choice is now up to you. Will you become what God intends or will you be like Israel and stray away.

Explore for yourself!

1. What are the "days of Gibeah?" What will God do?
2. What was Israel like? What did God see? What they seek?
3. What did they become like? What happened to their glory?
4. What is happening to the family lines? What warning is there for them?
5. Despite being planted in the meadow....what will happen?
6. What will God give them? What won’t they have any longer?
7. What will befall them? Why?
8. Where will they "be"?
9. What warning is there for us in all of this?

OUCH!

Growing up there was a phase we would all say from time to time, "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Sadly we know that that saying is far from the truth. Many times we still hurt because of those words which were spoken, mostly because they were spoken in a mean and nasty spirit meant to bring harm not help.

God, through Hosea is speaking some pretty "harsh" words to Israel. Words that are meant to get their attention to their own behavior. He tells them they are playing the Harlot. The result of these actions can be devastating. They will not remain in the land God has promised. The acts of worship will mean nothing to God because they are not obedient but simply going through the motions.

Without change punishment lies ahead. Even those who were to warn Israel have become useless allowing for their capture rather than escape.

Hosea 9:1-9 1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations! For you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. You have loved harlots' earnings on every threshing floor. 2 Threshing floor and wine press will not feed them, And the new wine will fail them. 3 They will not remain in the Lord's land, But Ephraim will return to Egypt, And in Assyria they will eat unclean food. 4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the Lord, Their sacrifices will not please Him. Their bread will be like mourners' bread; All who eat of it will be defiled, For their bread will be for themselves alone; It will not enter the house of the Lord. 5 What will you do on the day of the appointed festival And on the day of the feast of the Lord? 6 For behold, they will go because of destruction; Egypt will gather them up, Memphis will bury them. Weeds will take over their treasures of silver; Thorns will be in their tents.
7 The days of punishment have come, The days of retribution have come; Let Israel know this! The prophet is a fool, The inspired man is demented, Because of the grossness of your iniquity, And because your hostility is so great. 8 Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a prophet; Yet the snare of a bird catcher is in all his ways, And there is only hostility in the house of his God. 9 They have gone deep in depravity As in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their iniquity, He will punish their sins. NASU

Why would God speak these words?

Because He is seeking to get Israel to repent and turn from their evil ways.
God has told us all that we are sinners; not because He means us evil or hurt but cause He want to understand that we can find hope in Him and we believe the truth He proclaims and accept the forgiveness He offers.

Romans Road: 3:23, 6:23 5:8 10:9-10

Explore for yourself!

1. Why weren’t they to rejoice?
2. What did they "love"? What wouldn’t that do?
3. What will be the problem with the threshing floor and wine press?
4. How will the new wine fail them?
5. Will they go? What will they eat?
6. What two things won’t they do? What will their bread be like?
7. What will happen to those who eat of it?
8. What will they be missing?
9. How is God’s sovereignty shown?
10. What has come to Israel? Why does he say "let Israel know this?"
11. Why is the prophet a fool? And demented?
12. What was Ephraim? What has changed? What are they now?

Ugly Pot

No one would want to take and dirty, ugly pot and cook their supper in it. If you could clean it up it would get tossed out and replaced with a shiny new one. God is telling Israel that they are like that ugly pot. They have gone wild, hired lovers, employed allies to "protect them" simply put they have multiplied their sins. The final result of Israel’s sin is judgement.


Hos 8:8-9:1
8 Israel is swallowed up; They are now among the nations Like a vessel in which no one delights.
9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Even though they hire allies among the nations, Now I will gather them up; And they will begin to diminish Because of the burden of the king of princes. 11 Since Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, They have become altars of sinning for him. 12 Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, They are regarded as a strange thing. 13 As for My sacrificial gifts, They sacrifice the flesh and eat it, But the Lord has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their iniquity, And punish them for their sins; They will return to Egypt. 14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; And Judah has multiplied fortified cities, But I will send a fire on its cities that it may consume its palatial dwellings. NASU


Cleaning "your pot"!


So you might ask, "what does that have to do with me?" First let me say that we are all "ugly pots." Romans 3:23 says that we are all sinners.....dirty, filthy pots. God has provide a way to "clean our pot." Jesus Christ has died on the cross so that if we place our trust in His cleansing power we will be forgive and cleansed from our sin.


Rom 10:8-12
9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." NASU


(Emphasis mine)


Explore for yourself
1. What happens to Israel? Where are they now? What are they "like"?
2. What has Ephraim done? (What does this mean?)
3. Why does God go after them? What will happen? Why?
4. What is readily available?
5. What did God provide for them? What did they do with them?
6. How is they offering described? What did Israel forget?
7. What awaits Judah? What warning is their for us?

"Fireproof" is coming

FIREPROOF is a feature-length movie in theaters September 26. This action-packed love story about a firefighter, his wife... and a marriage worth rescuing will have you on the edge of your seat as the main character explores God’s design for relationships and marriage.

Identity Theft

In our world today "Identity Theft" is a huge problem. Someone steals your identity and presents themselves as if they are that person.
Israel was involved with "identity theft" as well. They claimed to know God.... aka. "God’s children" but God tells them they really aren’t His because if they were they would be obedient to his instructions. He tells them "you have made your god" this means it is not God. It will be destroyed.

Hos 8:1-7 1 Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law. 2 They cry out to Me, "My God, we of Israel know You!" 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off. 5 He has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, "My anger burns against them!" How long will they be incapable of innocence? 6 For from Israel is even this! A craftsman made it, so it is not God; Surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces. 7 For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up. NASU

The question we should be asking ourselves, are we identified as Christian or are we involved in "identity theft" and simply trying to present ourselves as Christian?

Explore for Yourself.
1. What is Hosea to do? Why?
2. Why is the enemy coming?
3. How has Israel responded to the coming of the enemy?
4. What are they "claiming" by their cry?
5. What does God have "against" Israel? What kinds of "gods" did they create?
6.
Why is God saying He had nothing to do with their kings/princes?
7. What did the sow and reap? If the "wind" actually produces something what will happen?

Smoldering Fire

When I lived in Pa. we had a wood stove in our basement to help keep the house warm on those cold winter days. There was one thing about that wood stove, it needed constant care. Several times each day it required someone to go down and put another log on the fire. If you didn’t "shake out" the ashes to restore the hot fire it just smolder away.

I remember my grandmother’s kitchen stove when they lived on the farm. It was a wood burning stove. All day long she would keep a fire burning so that she could cook at a moments notice. Just a quick log on the fire and the heat was back a full impact.
God is calling Israel to consider the condition of their heart. He tells them it is like an unkept fire. We all know what happens to those fires, smoldering all day long waiting to be taken to "full force" in a moments notice. He is telling them they we "explode" at a moments notice and they consume those who should be leading them.

Being consumed by anger will be so destructive in your life just as it was to Israel.

Hos 7:1-16
1 When I would heal Israel, The iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, And the evil deeds of Samaria, For they deal falsely; The thief enters in, Bandits raid outside, 2 And they do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds are all around them; They are before My face. 3 With their wickedness they make the king glad, And the princes with their lies. 4 They are all adulterers, Like an oven heated by the baker Who ceases to stir up the fire From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened. 5 On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers, 6 For their hearts are like an oven As they approach their plotting; Their anger smolders all night, In the morning it burns like a flaming fire. 7 All of them are hot like an oven, And they consume their rulers; All their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me. 8 Ephraim mixes himself with the nations; Ephraim has become a cake not turned. 9 Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know it. 10 Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, Nor have they sought Him, for all this. 11 So Ephraim has become like a silly dove, without sense; They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly. 13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me. 14 And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn away from Me. 15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me. 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. NASU

God desires to bring healing and restoration into your life. Don’t be like Israel and "resist" the benefits that God desires to bring to your life.

Explore for yourself.

1. What must we accept if healing is to take place?
2. When there is an "infection" in our lives....what must happen in order for healing to occur?
3. What did God remember? What is around? Why did they do their "wickedness"?
4. What does heat do to yeast? How does this relate to sin?
5. What effect is the wine having on the king/prices? What interaction is he having with scoffers?
6. How would a "open oven" work? What would this example be telling us?
7. What warning is there for becoming involved with scoffers?
8. What did they fail to do? What has Ephraim done? What is Ephraim become?
9. What is the result? Why would they notice this? What warning is there for us?
10. What didn’t they do? Why? What animal is Ephraim like?
11. What will God do? What is the "woe" statement? Why? What is their lie?
12. Does this make God "selfish"?
13. What did God want to do? From where must the cry for help come? What do they do?
14. Who gave them everything? What are they like? How will their princes fail? Why?
15. What will be their derision? What does Egypt have to do with their fall?


Do you want healing in your life?

God desires to bring that healing. Click on 2 Ways to live.

Fake Repentance?

When someone confronts you about doing something wrong (or even just something that annoyed them) how do you respond? Are you quick with "I’m sorry". Do you give any thought to what you did before you say "I’m sorry" or are you looking for a quick way out of your situations hoping they stop "bothering" you with this trivial stuff that gets in your way.

If you are quick with the sorry with out any admission of guilt then I would suggest that you haven’t fully repented or even given much consideration to what your action have done.
Israel has been "caught" sinning. Their response to Hosea’s comment and statement from the LORD is to return. They want it all to "go away" so they can continue to live the way they want to live. Consider the assumption that they make, "he will heal, he will fix and revive us" but no where in those statement do they actually admit that they have SINNED or done anything wrong.

God tells them they are like morning dew (gone in a flash). God will be bring judgement on their lives because He sees into their heart and know they the words of their month do not match what they are really thinking.

Hos 6:1-11
1" Come, let us return to the Lord .For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. 2 "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. 3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain ,Like the spring rain watering the earth."
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. 5 Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. 6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me. 8 Gilead is a city of wrongdoers, Tracked with bloody footprints. 9 And as raiders wait for a man, So a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they have committed crime. 10 In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself. 11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people. NASU

Yesterday we celebrated our thirty fourth wedding anniversary . I know that over those years I have said "I am sorry" with the hope that all would go away. But since I never admitted to doing anything wrong there was no effort to make any corrections or change. These days, I try and do better in understanding the mistake that was made and how to truly confess and change.
True confession must involve repentance with an effort to change.

Don’t say, "I’m sorry" unless you truly desire to admit to your sin and change your actions. (Not just hoping you won’t be caught again)

Explore for yourself

1.How did Israel respond to God’s rebuke?
2. What do they say will happen? What are they assuming? What is mission in this statement?
3. What question is asked? Describe their locality.
4. What will happen to them? What is like "like"?
5. What bring delight to the Lord? What is really necessary?
6. What is the "but" statement? How many "tragic" actions are listed?
7. What is important about the "also"? What is the "harvest" set out for Judah? Why?

Where Are You Looking?

If you were going to get candy you wouldn’t go to an Auto parts store. If you were looking to get your hair cut you wouldn’t head to the clothing store. So if you want directions from God why would you go to man.

This is exactly what God is telling Israel, Judea and Ephraim. God is bring judgement into their lives in order that might seek His face but instead they are going to the world around them. He responds to them by telling them since they sought relief from man rather then God, He would like a moth (destroying them) and a lion (tearing the to pieces) and like rottenness (smelling and decaying).

What God brought into the lives of His people was so that they would seek His face. But beyond he destruction that He speak about He also says that He will leave them to themselves (alone without God) until they acknowledge their guilt and seek His face. The affliction is designed by God for a purpose, so that would EARNESTLY seek HIM!

Hosea 5:8-15
Blow the horn in Gibeah, The trumpet in Ramah. Sound an alarm at Beth-aven: " Behind you, Benjamin!" 9 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I declare what is sure. 10 The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary;
On them I will pour out My wrath like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
Because he was determined to follow man's command. 12 Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim And like rottenness to the house of Judah. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria And sent to King Jareb. But he is unable to heal you, Or to cure you of your wound. 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and there will be none to deliver. 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. NASU

Have you been faced with afflictions? Could God be seeking you to acknowledge some guilt in your life and seek His face?

Why not confess that sin to God and seek Him through the reading of the Word of God.

Click on the "How to know Jesus link"

Explore for yourself.

What has God done? Why?
1. What is the warning that comes? What is going to come their way?
2. What significance is there to moving boundaries?
3. What is a "moth"? What is rottenness?
4. Where did Ephraim and Judah go when they were sick?
5. Now what action (animal) does God bring? What is the result?
6. How long will God stay away?
7. What will happen in their affliction?

Listen Up

How many times does you wife or husband ask, “Are you listening?” or you ask your kids, “are you listening?” Why do we ask that questions? We do it because although they “hear” us they really aren’t “listening” to what is being said. The words are heard but they aren’t producing the actions that are required.

The Lord, through Hosea, is telling the people to “HEAR!” meaning more that catch the words
but responded in a correct way to those words. The Lord is sending judgement because of what is happening and the failure of the people to be obedient.


Hos 5:1-7

5 Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the judgment applies to you, For you have been a snare at Mizpah And a net spread out on Tabor. 2 The revolters have gone deep in depravity, But I will chastise all of them. 3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the harlot, Israel has defiled itself. 4 Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, And they do not know the Lord. 5 Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also has stumbled with them. 6 They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, For they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their land. NASU

Let me ask you this question today. Have you truly heard what God has said to you?
Matt 11:28-30
28 " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and B YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NASA

John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU

Jesus is calling you to invite Him into your life. Please hear Him today.


Explore for yourself.
1. Who is supposed to be listening to Hosea? Why?
2. Why does God say they are not hidden from Him?
3. What has been done? Why can’t they return to God?
4. How has pride gotten in the way?

Drifting Away

Sometimes we seek things to bring us pleasure and enjoyment only to find out that they really don't satisfy. The more we want the less we truly receive.

These are some of what Hosea is describing. Things have been multiplied in their lives but the glory they had has changed, it is now shame. Ouch, that hurts, having something valuable turning to useless is not what we want out of life.

Pursuing these pleasure begins a downhill spiral in their lives. They more they go after the less it "rewards them". God bring judgement. Not because He is wicked but because of His great love for the children of Israel.

Hos 4:7-19

7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;I will change their glory into shame. 8 They feed on the sin of My people And direct their desire toward their iniquity. 9 And it will be, like people, like priest;So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds. 10 They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the harlot, but not increase,Because they have stopped giving heed to the Lord. 11 Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding. 12 My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them;For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray,And they have played the harlot, departing from their God. 13 They offer sacrifices on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oak, poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is pleasant.Therefore your daughters play the harlot And your brides commit adultery. 14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves go apart with harlots And offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes;So the people without understanding are ruined. 15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty; Also do not go to Gilgal, Or go up to Beth-aven And take the oath:"As the Lord lives!" 16 Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the Lord now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field? 17 Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone. 18 Their liquor gone,They play the harlot continually; Their rulers dearly love shame. 19 The wind wraps them in its wings, And they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices. NASU

Explore for Yourself


8. What are they doing with their desires? What is important to notice about the people and priest?
9. What warning signs do we have when people simply need more?
10. What things take away understanding? What leads them astray?
11. Why do they sacrifice "in the mountains"? Why do the daughters and wives play the harlot?
12. What statement is made concerning men and their leadership?
13. What was Judah to avoid? What could happen in a large open field with sheep?
14. What happen to Ephraim? What does their rulers love? What will bring shame?

Listen, not just hear.

Hosea is telling the people of Israel to "hear" the Word of the Lord. The Lord has something to say. He knows they faithlessness and lack of kindness. These are things that were supposed to be a part of their life (and yours and mine) but they have been replaced with swearing, deception, murder, and adultery. The consequences of these actions are the "mourning" of the land. There is suffering and heartache for all who go down this road.

Be careful that you don’t think these warning are just for Israel. Take this words to hear. The Lord knows all that is going on in your life.
If your facing heartaches and suffering, seek the Lord. He might be seeking to bring you back to fellowship with Him.

Hos 4:1-7
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.
2 There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,
And also the fish of the sea disappear.
4 Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof;
For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5 So you will stumble by day,
And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;
And I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7 The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
NASU

Explore for Yourself
1. What is the "Yet" connecting?
2. Why should no one find fault or offer reproof? What is important about stumbling by day?
3. Why will the prophets stumble at night? What happens to Israel? Who is the "mother"?
4. Why are the people destroyed? Why don’t they have knowledge?
5. What is the role of a priest....what will not happen?
6. List some of the "conditional" statements.
7. What happens to the glory of the children? Why?

All Aboard!


















Guess you came to my house?











Mom-Mom is behind the camera.

I like to swing!

Love At a Price

There was a song that had a line in it, "the things we do for love." Those things, sometimes can be expensive. We go to fancy dinners, movies, even expensive "night on the town" all to show that someone that we really love them. Notice what God instructed Hosea to do to truly love Gomer.

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." 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3 Then I said to her, "You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you." 4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. NASU

Despite all that Gomer has done, God instructed Hosea to love her again. This meant that was going to truly cost him. Since Gomer was "up for sale" Hosea would purchase her to once again make her his wife. (Those other lovers has dumped and left her) She was instructed never to play the harlot again and Hosea told her he would LOVE her, not just keep her as a slave woman.
God is show Israel that He too love them. He told them that there would be a day when they would return and seek the Lord and "David" their king. This David is Jesus.

1 Cor 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Jesus has purchased you to be his "bride".

Explore for yourself.
1. What command was given to Hosea?
2. What condition do we find Gomer? And Israel?
3. How much did Gomer cost? What did God buy? How?
4. What command came with the purchase? What comes to us? See Acts 20:28, Rev. 5:9
5. What happens to Israel?
6. What does this cause Israel to do? When?

Winning Them Back

Can you remember back to your dating days? I sure you can, as a man I can remembering doing many things to win the heart of my (now) wife. Hosea is describing for us some of the things that he is doing to win back is wife. We can see that he has even provided for her needs without her knowledge. Despite her lack of response, he continues to pursue her out of obedience to God.

Hos 2:8-23
8 "For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil,
And lavished on her silver and gold,
Which they used for Baal.
9 "Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time
And My new wine in its season.
I will also take away My wool and My flax
Given to cover her nakedness.
10 "And then I will uncover her lewdness
In the sight of her lovers,
And no one will rescue her out of My hand.
11 "I will also put an end to all her gaiety,
Her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths
And all her festal assemblies.
12 "I will destroy her vines and fig trees,
Of which she said, 'These are my wages
Which my lovers have given me.'
And I will make them a forest,
And the beasts of the field will devour them.
13 "I will punish her for the days of the Baals
When she used to offer sacrifices to them
And adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry,
And follow her lovers, so that she forgot Me," declares the Lord.
14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her. 15 "Then I will give her her vineyards from there, And the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. 16 "It will come about in that day," declares the Lord,"That you will call Me Ishi And will no longer call Me Baali. 17 "For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, So that they will be mentioned by their names no more. 18 "In that day I will also make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, The birds of the sky And the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land, And will make them lie down in safety. 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In loving kindness and in compassion, 20 And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord. 21 "It will come about in that day that I will respond," declares the Lord."I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth, 22 And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and to the oil, And they will respond to Jezreel. 23 "I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, And I will say to those who were not My people,'You are My people!'And they will say, 'You are my God!'" NASU

We see that God is providing HOPE. In the valley of Achor were set stone to remind the children of Israel of the day God turned from wrath. God will also betroth us forever. But where and when to we see this for us today.

At the cross. The cross of Christ has provided a door of HOPE! Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. NASU
He is describing that door of Hope! And one entering that door (as a child of God) it will be for eternity. John 6:39-40 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." NASU

Are you struggling with you life, even though you have trusted Christ. Today we see that God is still pursuing you. He does not toss people away... and you are one of those people. Why not allow his love to come into your heart again. Be refreshed, respond like when you first met Jesus for of exuberant joy.

Explore for yourself

1. What happens to the vineyards and fig orchards?
2. What is the third "therefore" in v 14? What does God do now?
3. Look at the Joshua 7:26 what is the Valley of Achor? How will it change?
4. What changes with Gomer? What is Hosea called? Rather than what?
5. What will be established?
6. What five things are part of the betrothal? Why are these important?
7. How does the earth respond?
8. What will change with the people?
9. How do this relate to us today? What lessons can we learn and apply?
10. Why are these thoughts so hard to handle?

Contending for the Right

The moment we say we are going to fight for something it send "chills" down our back. This is because we have been taught that fighting is not right. God calls Hosea to instruct the people of Israel to fight for the right and he is to fight for Gomer his wife. There can be times that we must fight for the right, standing up against that which is evil or wrong. Let’s take a look at what God says through Hosea.

Hosea 2:1-7
1 Say to your brothers, " Ammi," and to your sisters, " Ruhamah."
2 "Contend with your mother, contend,
For she is not my wife, and I am not her husband;
And let her put away her harlotry from her face
And her adultery from between her breasts,
3 Or I will strip her naked
And expose her as on the day when she was born.
I will also make her like a wilderness,
Make her like desert land
And slay her with thirst.
4 "Also, I will have no compassion on her children,
Because they are children of harlotry.
5 "For their mother has played the harlot;
She who conceived them has acted shamefully.
For she said, ' I will go after my lovers,
Who give me my bread and my water,
My wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.'
6 "Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns,
And I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths.
7 "She will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them;
And she will seek them, but will not find them. NASU

Notice the wrong, Gomer is not being the wife she should be, she is caught up in adultery. Hosea is told to "fight" for her. He is not told to simply put her away. Or walk away from this situation. God is also telling Hosea, if she doesn’t turn from her ways, HE will be the one who exposes her in judgement. To often, we Christian’s what to be sure that sin is judged, and rightly so. However, this should not be our first response to sin. It should be one of contending for the sinner, fighting them, so that they can be restored into fellowship.

It was God who was going to up a hedge around her so that she could not get to her lovers.
One other thing we should notice. It is the children who suffer because of these sinful actions. We can see this in our culture today. When sin is allowed to become "full blow" the sad reality is there will be heartaches and trouble.

Let me ask you, "Do you know someone who is struggling with some sin?" Are you willing to "contend with them in grace" to win them back to Christ. Paul give us clear help with understanding this matter.

Gal 6:1-5 1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness*; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load. NASU
* emphasis mine.

I want to encourage you today, be like Hosea and use gentleness and grace to win back the one who you know is going astray. (If someone seek to come to you, be open to being won back to fellowship, they are doing this because they care!) Don't rush to judging.

Explore for yourself
1. What has happened in the marriage of Hosea and Gomer?
2. What is to be put away? What will happen if she fails to put it away?
3. What "like" statements does the Lord make?
4. What will be done for the children of harlotry?
5. Why did Gomer pursue her lovers? What six things did she receive?
6. What is the first "therefore" statement in vs. 6?
7. What was tried first? What does this tell us?
8. What is the hoped result? During all this what does she not know? What did she not do?
9. What is the second "therefore" in v 9?
10. What does this show us?

Judgement and Mercy

We have started working our way through the book of Hosea. We have seen that the Lord instructed Hosea to marry a wife of harlotry (he married Gomer). Their first born was named "Jezreel" which means "scattered" . It give the idea of being "spread around."

Let’s continue on.

Hosea 1:6-11 6 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, "Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. 7 "But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen." 8 When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 And the Lord said, "Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God." 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." 11 And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, And they will appoint for themselves one leader, And they will go up from the land,
For great will be the day of Jezreel. NASU

Here we see two more children born. "Lo-ruhamah" which means "not pitied or loved" and "Lo-ammi" which means "not my people". What God is revealing through the names of these three children are the progress of judgement that is set to fall upon the Children of Israel.

The judgement laid out through Lo-ruhamah comes with some degree of hope. In verse 7 it is mentioned that God will have compassion on Judah and will deliver them by His power and not by the sword, bow, battle horses or horsemen. In other words, they will not be saved through the efforts of man but by the Lord.

The third child Lo-ammi, "not my people" shows that God will turn away from His people who have turned away from Him. But again there is hope.... for there will be a time when these people will be referred to as ""sons of the living God."

God was bring judgement upon His people, but He was doing this with a purpose of restoring them to fellowship with Him. We see this in that the second time the name of Jezreel is used in verse 11 it means "planted". God is going to "plant" Israel rather than scatter them.

Are you facing challenges in your life today? Could it be that God is trying to get your complete and undivided attention? If so, return to Him. He will heal and restore.

Explore for yourself

1. How many children did Gomer have? How many did Hosea have? (Who)
2. What was the first child’s name? What did it mean/represent?
3. What was the second child’s name? What does it mean?
4. What was the contrast between Israel and Judah?
5. How would they be delivered? What would not be used?
6. What is the third child’s name? What does it mean?
7. What was the exception?
8. What will change? What will they become?
9. What/who will God appoint?
10. Jezreel has two meanings-second meaning is planted.
11. How will the names change?

No Way

For many years of my life I rarely sat under the ministry of a pastor that taught from the minor prophets. Recently, I felt challenged to begin working my way through these books and discover that there is much that we Christians have been missing. I would like to begin blogging my way through the book of Hosea

Hos 1:1-5
1 The word of the Lord which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, " Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord." 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the Lord said to him, "Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 "On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." NASU

Let me begin with a couple of observations. First, what instruction Hosea receive was from the Lord. Hosea is someone that God has chosen to use to communicate His message to the people of Israel. Second, we must be careful not to assume that some of the unique instruction given to Hosea apply directly to us. Third, we must see the PRINCIPLES that God gives to us through the example and instruction to Hosea.

The time frame for this book is near the end of the Northern Kingdom. God is once again reaching out to begin about change while instructing the people was will happen if change does not take place.

As we go through this book we will see Hosea standing as a representative of God. Gomer is also a representative for Israel and for you and me. We need to see these representation in order to best under the truth that applies to our lives today.

Gomer was a harlot, not something we would want to call someone today, however, if we see that she stood for those that walk away from God we will see that in our culture today there are those who could be called "harlots". Certain not a kind term but I fear that this might fit us (Christian’s) as well when we get our attitudes and become disobedient to God. Certainly we will explore this more throughout the book.

The Lord names the first child, Jezreel. This stands for "yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. Let me ask you, are you in a "Jezreel" state in your life. God is patient but perhaps only for a little while longer? Now is the time to turn back to Him and be restored into a deep rich fellowship.

Explore for Yourself
1. What came to Hosea? When?
2. What did the Lord tell Hosea to do?
3. Why did the Lord tell Hosea to do this?
4. Who did Hosea marry?