The book of Hosea emphasizes that people are destroyed
because they do not know who God is. In chapter 6, we read that God desires mercy
and that we know and acknowledge him.
In Hosea chapter 11, we read that God has chosen
us.
Hosea 11:1 ESV
[1] When
Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
God also teaches us to live and takes care of
us.
Hosea 11:3 ESV
[3] Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I
took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them.
One of the hardest things for parents is patience
with their children; however, God is very patient with us. God wants us to be obedient
and successful, yet, even when we fail, God continues to take care of us. It is
Satan that tries to trick us to forget God as our father. Satan tries to convince
us that God cannot continue to love us or show us mercy.
We are reminded of God's deep love for
us. We have not earned it or do anything that would endear God to us. It is that
God is love and is patient with his creation.
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Knowing
God
Hosea 6:1-6
From the very first verses, the prophet calls
Israel back to God. Obviously the Israelites had strayed from God, but we need to
know what destructive path were they on.
Part of the problem was they had no knowledge
of God.
Hosea 4:1 ESV
[1] Hear
the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with
the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no
knowledge of God in the land;
What does it mean to know God? Those who know
God will have a different relationship than those who do not know God. It is, in
fact, about your relationship with God then simply knowing God.
A relationship requires communication and spending
time with each other. Knowing God is not just reading the Bible. We need to have
the Holy Spirit.
Hosea 6:6 ESV
[6] For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Sometimes mercy is translated as steadfast love.
Attending church is important, but the true purpose is to become closer to God
Why should we offer sacrifice? Everything comes
from God and our offering is a confession that we acknowledge that God has given
us.
God does not want to be treated as an idol or
someone who can be bribed. We should not give in order to receive. God wants to
be our father.
Hosea 6:4 ESV
[4] What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What
shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that
goes early away.
This verse talks of people who quickly profess
their love for God and then forget about God. True worship has a lasting effect
and influences everything.
A good relationship needs meeting often
and in meaningful ways. Rituals are good , but they can become empty practices.
Attending church is also good, but we need to allow the Holy Spirit to change us,
or we are just coming for the sake of coming.
