2023_09_20 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Hosea 1-2, Zephaniah 1, Ezekiel 11
Our reading this week is sobering. The same people that have experienced God’s love, protection, provision, and kindness, have chosen over and over again to be unfaithful to Him. In Hosea, God made it clear that His people had become adulterers. Even when they had times of good leadership (Hezekiah and Josiah) the people quickly reverted to their evil practices of honoring and worshipping other gods. God exhibited amazing patience, warning the people repeatedly that their unfaithfulness would lead to serious consequences. God continually invited them to repent and come back the Him, but they would not. They preferred to follow their own interests and gathered around leaders and teachers who would only tell them what they wanted to hear.
Starting with the Northern Kingdom (Israel), God brought punishment upon His wayward people. He pulled back His protection and allowed them to be overtaken by neighboring nations, just as He had warned. After that, the same happened to the Southern Kingdom (Judah). It is painful to read about the devastation that came upon the people due to their own stubborn and selfish choices. But amazingly God doesn’t give up on them. In Ezekiel 11 God speaks to His people who have suffered great losses, become prisoners of Babylon, and are living in exile far from their homeland. Through His prophet Ezekiel God says this, “Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile. 17 I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.’ 18 “When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols. 19 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, 20 so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 11:16–20 (NLT)
God has punished the disobedience, yes, but He also continues to love His people. Even during their exile, He made Himself available as a safe place (sanctuary) where they eventually led a restoration of their home. God reminds them (and us) that our relationship with Him is to be one of singlehearted devotion, where we obey Him out of love and gratitude. God is always trying to get us to this place, and it is here that we discover that the beauty and joy He offers will not be found anywhere else.
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor