September 26, 2011
DON'T MISTAKE MOTION FOR ACTON
Hosea 8
Doug Wilks
Central Truth
While Israel sought temporal security and comfort apart from God, we must be mindful to use our own God-given time, energy, and resources to further God's Kingdom, not our own ambition or pleasure.
Key Verse | Hosea 8:7
For they sow the wind
And they reap the whirlwind
(Hosea 8:7a)
Hosea 8
Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind
1
Set the trumpet to your lips!
One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD,
because they have transgressed my covenant
and rebelled against my law.
2
To me they cry,
“My God, we—Israel—know you.”
3
Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him.
4
They made kings, but not through me.
They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
for their own destruction.
5
I have
1
8:5
Hebrew He has
spurned your calf, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of innocence?
6
For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
shall be broken to pieces.
2
8:6
Or shall go up in flames
7
For they sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
strangers would devour it.
8
Israel is swallowed up;
already they are among the nations
as a useless vessel.
9
For they have gone up to Assyria,
a wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
10
Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And the king and princes shall soon writhe
because of the tribute.
11
Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12
Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13
As for my sacrificial offerings,
they sacrifice meat and eat it,
but the LORD does not accept them.
Now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt.
14
For Israel has forgotten his Maker
and built palaces,
and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
so I will send a fire upon his cities,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
Dive Deeper | Hosea 8
Trivia Question: What is the significance of the number 86,400?
It has been said that whatever we "make much of" is what we worship. If that is how we define worship--making much of something--what have you worshiped recently?
A quick list of a few things that we may have "made much of" in the past week: our jobs, planning a vacation, our favorite sports team, a hobby, our physical fitness, or even just day-to-day bustle and distraction. We all are guilty of caving to the worldly whisper of "self first!" However, we know that this does not honor our merciful and loving God.
In Hosea, we see an Israel that has put its own self-centered ambition and comfort ahead of its commitment to God. Foreign alliances are made with godless countries, leaders are chosen without God's guidance, and altars are built to honor false gods. Israel made much of itself when it should have been making much of God.
Hosea uses the phrase "sowing the wind" to describe the futility of Israel's self-absorption. Can you imagine how absurd it would look if we saw someone on the side of the road actually trying to "sow" or "plant" the wind? Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, that is exactly what many of us do in our daily lives--sowing the wind and mistaking motion for action. Another great phrase that describes this flawed life approach is Tyranny of the Urgent.
In truth, we know that living for God alone is the best and only choice we should make with our lives. As Romans 12:2 states: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
By the way, there are 86,400 seconds in a day. Every CEO, star athlete, life-saving physician, or disciple of Jesus Christ has the same amount of time in each day. Let's joyfully focus on the only thing that matters--loving Jesus and serving Him!
Discussion Questions
1. How is Israel's relationship with God in Hosea similar to your relationship with God? Is your life society-centered, self-centered, or Christ-centered?
2. Compare and contrast the futility of a life lived sowing the wind as seen in Hosea 8:7 with the truth and wisdom of Romans 12:2.
3. Are there areas in your life right now that you know are not pleasing to God? Consider those areas and talk to God about them. Surrender to Him those areas in your life and ask that He fill you with a renewed understanding of His goodness, love, and mercy.
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
HOSEA 8-12 (SEPTEMBER 26-30)
Read Hosea 10:11-13.
God's Way or My Way?
Ask your children which they think is better: God's way or their way?
Reread Hosea 10:12-13.
Fold a piece of paper in half. On the top of the left half, write, "God's way." On the other half, write: "Our way." On the left side, write the four things that verse 12 says are following after God. On the right side record from verse 13 what happens when we do it our way.
Look at the differences, and talk about which one is better and why.
ACTIVITY: Hand your children a potato and tell them to make it grow. Give them a little time to try to figure out how to grow it. Then go to http://www.ehow.com/how_6239373_grow-potato-water-science-project.html to find out how to root the potato to grow it in the "right way," the way that will actually work.
God is our "expert" on life. We must seek Him and trust Him to do it "His way," which is the right way.