Dana Hagstrom – Page 450

Hosea 11:12-12:14 – New Chapter

If the reading looks disjointed today, it’s because a new section started at the very end of chapter 11. I wanted to keep the thoughts together. I see that happen, especially in the New Testament. Chapters flow into new chapters.

It’s kind of like that with life, too. One chapter of our life may not close before a new chapter begins. They can run concurrently for a while. Or, the new chapter once opened, immediately extinguishes the preceding chapter.

Think of some of the scene changes or new chapters in your life. Have you always been a follower of Jesus? If not, what did that conversion process look like? What changes do you foresee in your near future? Perhaps you have a big change coming, how are you preparing?

For me, our retirement to Mexico is probably the biggest life change I’ve ever experienced. Many people retire, and many people move abroad. Some do both at the same time like us! We felt God was really working this process for us. Thinking back, the transition time was so short. I still am amazed to be here, and we’re coming up on our year anniversary! How can that be?!

Speaking of new beginnings, verse 6 has a bit of a homecoming feel to it. “So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him.” Coming back to God. What a nice through for us today. We know God has never left our side. Not for one minute. But have we wandered? Have we always been on the path God has for us? Maybe a detour looked alluring, so we stepped away from God. Maybe roadblocks kept us stuck, despite the ability to work around them with opportunities only God could offer.

Re-read this passage, knowing that Jacob is Israel, the person and the region.

Reflect on the person God made you to be. Review the chapters of your life. Many more chapters are yet to be written. Is your current chapter a doozy or a dozer? Either way, depend on God to get you to the next chapter.

Let’s pray. Father, this chapter I’m in right now is intense. I feel so empowered by you to make it the best I can. I know you are fighting for me and giving me wisdom. Satan is also at work, looking for any and all opportunities to make me stumble. I can feel him close. It’s unpleasant God, put him in his place. Help me not to listen to his lies and deceits. Thank you for healing me from Satan’s attack on my body. It feels good to be able to enjoy your world and my tasks again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hosea 11:1-11 – Parent’s Lament

Read Hosea 11:1-11

Oh, the lament of a parent in this passage. God, speaking through Hosea, is recounting his upbringing of Israel, remembering the rescue and the provision. Despite all this, Israel continues to turn away.

Such agony a parent feels when children turn away or do not heed the advice or direction we give, going their own way. But the words that jumped out, “how can I let you go?” As I write this, it’s back to school time for many in the U.S., and even here in Mexico. I’ve watched friends become empty-nesters for the first time. While we all know this is the rite of passage, and we’ve been helping to prepare for this moment from the day they were born, it is hard. We mourn. Something has ended. We need to focus on dawn of a new beginning.

No matter what our children do, we can and will never give up on them. To let them hurt and struggle does tear our hearts. I recall times worrying about one of our children in particular that I might never see him again. Still to this day, there is a strong bond there that keeps us connected despite the miles.

It’s easy to let fear creep in. We can feel so helpless in our moments of fear. That is Satan telling us lies and reducing our trust in God to mere rubble. Satan is strong, but never stronger than the power of God, the power within me. It is especially in our times of fear that we need to get on our knees. We must rely on God to take care of our children. He gave them to us, so we must return them to him.

When trust and our reliance on God returns, so will a sense of calm and peace. Allow it to wash over you and refresh your weary soul. In weakness, our conversations with God must increase, not decrease. We need to arm ourselves with God’s grace and power to withstand the evil that tries to take us over. We must to cling to our faith, trusting God in all circumstances.

So what are you struggling with today? Have you given it to God?

Let’s pray. Father, thank you for the beautiful children you have given me to love. Forgive me if I have failed them in any way. You are healer, and I pray for your healing on them as they all continue to deal with past hurts. You know their struggles better than they do themselves. Work in their hearts to create a readiness and desire to know you. I pray this for all people who do not have a relationship with you. I pray for those who have broken relationships with you. I ask for your guidance in pursuing all that you have for me. I am ready. Send me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hosea 10:1-15 – Sow Righteousness

Read Hosea 10:1-15

God has spoken. Judgment for Israel is here. All are being called out. I got the feeling that maybe some were cowering now, hoping that God would pass over them and not bring his wrath. Even some players outside Israel were brought in.

What I liked about today’s reading were the word pictures or descriptions. While it didn’t lessen the intent, it made it easier to understand. The same message only with a different “package”. The descriptors helped me to see parallels to our day.

What struck a chord with you? What questions came to your mind? I welcome your comments at the end.

I would love to have this blog be a safe place where we can enter into conversation. We didn’t bring David’s library of Biblical history and pastoral care to Mexico for nothing. I would love to use those resources to answer your questions. I’ll get the joy of watching David know exactly what book will have your answer if he doesn’t already have a nugget to share.

So please, don’t be shy. Comment below — and go back to any of the other posts and comment.

When I read verse 4, I was hit by the reality that still exists. “They spout empty words and make covenants they don’t intend to keep. So injustice springs up among them like poisonous weeds in a farmer’s field.” Ouch! God’s promises and word never fails. Not so for us all of the time. Can you remember a time when you made a promise but didn’t keep it? Maybe you said something in haste or anger, without thinking it through. Empty. What better way to cause bitterness or distrust with those involved.

Let’s also look at verse 12. “I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” Here it is. The nugget I’m taking away. This is what God wants from us. As we’ve said before, our purpose is to love God and others. This is a great formula to follow to make it happen. Read that verse several times and let it sink in. We have our marching orders, just like the Israelites did.

What are we waiting for?

Let’s pray. Father God, thank you for your instruction today. I love how your Word is always perfect. There is always a message for me. Now it’s up to me to heed your challenge and get to it. Cleanse my heart of things that are keeping me from you. Help me break apart the hardness that has set in so I can be open and ready for your righteousness. Don’t let my eyes be closed to the needs around me. Show me those that are ready to hear from you. Give me the words to say. I trust you will in your time. I love you Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hosea 9:1-17 – Punishment or Not?

Read Hosea 9:1-17

This is way more than a time-out kind of punishment. God’s fury toward Israel has now unleashed their doom. Do they deserve it? They are worshiping other gods. They are defiling their own traditions.

With the great power of God comes the strength to punish. Israel has had plenty of warning to shape up. Nothing has changed, unless for the worse. God was giving out no more second chances. Do you blame him?

What I took away from this is that I certainly never want to make God mad like this. I want to be obedient and seek his wisdom. I want to stay faithful, even on days when I don’t feel connected. It’s in those times that I need to seek God more fervently, because the world is closing in and clouding the truth.

I can’t even imagine a life where I am not following God and being loved by him. The unfaithfulness of the Israelites has always been something I just couldn’t fully fathom. But how much different is that from our society today? People are far from God. People are worship idols like money and fame. People walk around like little gods. What is it that motivates most people?

“Bible-thumpers” often get a bad wrap, too. Why is that? I often want to apologize for being a Christ follower. Why? Because too many so-called Christians have really muddied the waters with their bigotry, judgment of others and pushiness. I don’t think Jesus would EVER have been like this. He dined with sinners. He sought out the broken. There was no condemnation EVER in his actions. Jesus loved everybody.

We have been given two very important missions here on earth. (I realize I am totally digressing from our text today, but it’s what’s on my heart.) We are called to love God above all things and to love each other. Sounds easy, right? It’s simple but not certainly not easy.

Take a moment to think about who you may have encountered recently that needs a touch from God. How will they receive this message best? Can you help bring that message?

Let’s pray. Lord, forgive me when I am rebellious and try to do things my own way. I never want to be cut off from you like the Israelites were by their own actions. Give me clarity in how you’d like me to proceed today. Bring healing to my body so that I can serve you with my entire self. Fill me anew with your Spirit. You are mighty and powerful and I am in awe of you and all you have done. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hosea 8:1-14 – God’s Fury

Read Hosea 8:1-14

Did today’s reading make you a little uneasy? It did me. God’s fury against his people is raging, and yet the people don’t seem to get it. While they plead in verse 2 for God’s help, redemption and forgiveness are not in the cards for them just yet.

So much evil surrounds the people and they seem to thrive on it. It seems as if God isn’t going to rush to rescue this time. They must wallow in the consequences of their bad choices.

Again, it’s easy for us to read this with a sort of nonchalance thinking their sin is so much worse than ours. Don’t fall into that trap. All sin separates us from God. As far as I know, there is not a hierarchy of sins in God’s eyes. Sin is our downfall, that which keeps us apart from God’s perfect will for us.

Verse 12 struck a chord with me. “Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don’t apply to them.” It saddens me to realize we do that same thing. We, as a society at least. Over the years, in one Bible study or another, I have encountered people that want to pick and choose what parts of the Bible “apply” to them. Have you experienced that? Maybe you’ve done it, too.

If we want to act in a certain way, and yet the Bible (God) says no, the tendency is to disregard Scripture. That would be one way of reconciling ourselves to God, just ignore the parts of his Word that we struggle with. No! Absolutely not! No! We, then, are no better than these Israelites who were challenging God at every turn.

The words of Scripture are alive yesterday, today, and for all time. We have no right to make our own rules to fit our own circumstances. We must fit our lives into the framework God has designed for us. Only then will we achieve true freedom and communion with God.

Why, then, do we struggle? Why do we question God? Think about a time in your life when you wrestled with God and his plan for your life. How did that turn out?

Let’s pray. Lord, you are the ruler of my life. Forgive me when I try to take control. Forgive me when I question your intentions. Thank you for the protection you provide and the unconditional love you give, even when I stumble. I don’t want to be like the stubborn Israelites who insisted on their own way. I know you way for me is so much better. Give me the patience to wait for you to move. I praise your name for it is great. I am humbled that I am your child. In Jesus’ name. Amen.