Hosea
9 reminds me there are few things more beautiful than a mother’s
love. It is a sacrificial love, in that a mother will give of
herself to protect her child. I know my mom denied herself things in
order that her children would have, and I know she put herself in
harm’s way to protect us. Jesus described His mission in part by
saying, “Greater love has no
one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends“.
Today’s chapter contrasts sacrificing self to save others; with
sacrificing others to save self. The chapter begins with the prophet
scolding the nation, “Do not
rejoice, Israel… For
you have been unfaithful to your God… They will not remain in the
Lord’s land“. We read later
their unfaithfulness to God went as far as sacrificing children to
false gods. As a result Israel’s actions, God rejected their
half-hearted effort to continue the appointed rituals. “Such
sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat
them will be unclean.” Anyone
ceremonially unclean could not participate in any offerings or
celebrations. They had to remain separated until they were washed
clean. Sadly there was no one to cleanse them. Have you been
feeling like an outsider?
Hosea
figuratively describes the state of the house of worship, “Their
treasures of silver will be taken over by briers, and thorns will
overrun their tents“. After
buildings are abandoned, the lack of use becomes evident by the
things that grow up and conceal. The house of worship does not make
you righteous, but our hearts can quickly get overgrown without
regular fellowship and the encouragement of believers. James 2:17
puts it this way, “faith by
itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead“.
Hosea warned, “The days of
punishment are coming“, but
their understanding was so blocked by sin, “the
prophet is considered a fool“.
Without God’s wisdom, mankind sinks into the natural state, “They
have sunk deep into corruption“.
Hosea adds, “God will remember
their wickedness“.
The
last section of the chapter contains God’s perspective. He begins,
“When I found Israel, it was
like finding grapes in the desert“.
Newborn babies are not usually very attractive, but to mom and dad,
they are beautiful and more valuable than anything on earth. What
heartbreak when they grew up to reject Him for the pagan god of Baal.
I can only relate it to a mother seeing her child caught up in drug
addiction. He says they “became
as vile as the thing they loved“.
She sees the addiction destroy, “no
birth, no pregnancy, no conception.
Even
if they rear children, I will bereave them“.
God gave them a beautiful place to live and prosper, but after
watching the self-destruction, God must act. “Ephraim
will bring out their children to the slayer“.
She takes the hard, but heroic steps to stop the madness, “Because
of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of My house“.
A mother’s love allows her to cut off protection that is enabling
destruction, knowing it is the only way to bring change. She would
rather see them in prison, than see them driving under the influence
and possibly killing others. “Ephraim
is blighted, their root is withered, they yield no fruit“.
Hosea closes with his observation, “My
God will reject them because they have not obeyed Him; they will be
wanderers among the nations“.
Friend, have you been enabling destruction? Maybe it is time for
some motherly love, “If
your brother sins, rebuke
him; and if he repents, forgive him”
(Luke 17:3). No matter where you have been, restoration still waits
at the foot of the cross. It is free to all who ask, trusting in His
perfect sacrifice.