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?