July 23, 2001

Lessons for August 5

EXPLORE THE BIBLE:
Don't walk through a corn field looking for cotton
___ Hosea 8:1-10:15
___By Jeane Law
___First Baptist Church, Lubbock
___I grew up in the home of an Alabama county farm extension agent. My daddy was like a doctor to the farmers. We often heard him on the phone, diagnosing the problem a farmer had with his crops. He sometimes recommended certain products to treat the problem. We loved to ride with him when he drove out into the country to look at the crops. He would park close to a field and leave us to play around the car while he disappeared among the corn stalks to examine their condition. But Daddy never walked through a corn field looking for cotton plants. A harvest is always directly related to what is planted. This also is true spiritually.
___Paul stated it well in Galatians 6:7: "Be not deceived. God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
___In our lesson, Israel is reaping what she has sown, disobedience to God.
___Hosea 8 begins with the words, "Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the Lord because the people have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law." The trumpet is to warn the people of a military threat. One writer says the word "vulture," in place of eagle, might be a better word-picture for us as we understand Israel was doomed. We've all seen western movies where vultures begin to circle those near death for the purpose of devouring them.
___The "house of the Lord" phrase represents the nation of Israel which has broken its covenant with God.
___In verse 3, we read the reason for the vultures. "Israel has rejected what is good ... an enemy will pursue him." God had carefully given the law to Moses so the nation of Israel would be guided in loving the Lord with all their hearts. The Mosaic statutes revealed what the people should and should not do in various civil, political, religious and social situations so they could keep their favored relationship with God. We surely know, after our weeks of studying Amos and Hosea, that they failed miserably to keep these statutes. Their rebellion against the instructions was a rejection of God's leadership in their lives, and thus began their downfall as they reaped the harvest of seeds of unfaithfulness.
___God declared, "They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" (v. 7). Just as we always reap what we sow, we will also reap more than we sow--good or bad. A seed of corn produces a stalk filled with ears of corn. Israel had carelessly sown its spiritual seed in idolatry and alliances with ungodly nations. Consequently, the nation would reap the whirlwind of God's judgment in destruction, captivity and exile.
___God's discipline was as necessary for the future of Israel as parental discipline is necessary for building character in a disobedient child. It often is difficult to give, because we love the child, but the reason we are able to discipline is because we love the child! We call this "tough love." God knew all about it. Oh how he loved these adulterous people.
___God has tried to warn them through his prophets, but, "Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, and the inspired man a maniac" (9:7). The picture and accusations grow worse and worse. He recalls how he felt when he first chose Israel and how happy he was, but they have chosen to turn away from him. And so he is going to leave them, and this is the ultimate judgment of God.
___Have you known God's discipline in your own life? I have the wonderful privilege of sharing a Sunday School class with young men and women who are on parole after having been incarcerated. They are reaping what they sowed, and they are being disciplined for poor choices they have made in their lives. They also are being disciplined by the directors of the ministry in which they live at this time. They are required to attend church each Sunday and sit with us in class and attend worship services. I wish you could experience what we do as we see them, one by one, come to know the Lord and give their hearts to Jesus. Their countenance changes before our eyes. Their self-esteem is increased, and they have hope for the future as they grow in their knowledge of Christ!
___Discipline is good for us and gives us opportunities to grow spiritually. When difficulty comes our way, we should turn to the Lord and ask: "What are you trying to teach me in this situation? Is there something in my lifestyle that needs changing?" We know he wants what's best for us.
___The purpose of all of God's discipline is found in Hosea 10:12, "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you." This was God's hope for Israel.
___But in 10:13 we read, "But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception." Nothing will protect them now, neither their powerless gods or their weak king. It is over.

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