by Sandy Kirby Quandt

In the fourteenth chapter of the Old Testament book of Hosea, the prophet tells the people to return to God, petition God to forgive them for their idolatry, open their eyes to his truth, and walk along his path.

Good advice for us today, as well, wouldn’t you agree?

The people of Israel abandoned God and trusted in man-made idols. Hosea’s call was for them to abandon their idols and trust God.

We may look at people in the Old Testament with their idols and tell ourselves that’s them, not us. We don’t bow to idols made by man, but would we be correct in saying that?

Sure we may not have Asherah poles on high places, or statues of Dagon or Molech lining our streets, but what about those things we do idolize? Those things we put before God?

Possessions, family, jobs, self, wealth …

Hosea told the people to acknowledge nothing but God could save them. Not their military, not their country, not their leaders, not their wealth, not their leisure pursuits, not themselves.

He told them God promised to cure them of their idolatry and faithlessness when they turned from their idols to him. God’s love for them would know no bounds. He would remove his anger from them.

God promised his restoration would bring life and new growth. It would being peace and rest to the people. Once restored, life would bloom under God’s hand.

Hosea ended his book saying the wise and intelligent were the ones who opened their eyes to God. They were the ones who would understand God’s word and listen. They were the ones who would walk along God’s true and right paths.

The unwise were those who did not follow God’s path.

God’s promises are the same for us today. Despite how far from him we may have gone, he is willing to forgive and restore when we give up our idol worship and return to God.

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O Israel, return to the Lord, your God, for you have been crushed by your sins. Bring your petition. Come to the Lord and say, “O Lord, take away our sins; be gracious to us and receive us, and we will offer you the sacrifice of praise. Hosea 14:1-2 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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