Hosea 8 is a chapter that truly speaks to how someone can hit rock bottom. I can’t emphasize enough in this chapter that when you see God referring to the Israelites they are God’s chosen people. When we accept Salvation from Jesus we become a part of this group. Once you have been saved you now belong to God and are part of his Chosen people.
Romans 11:17
“Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree…”
Ephesians 2:12–13, 19
“You are no longer foreigners… but fellow citizens with the saints…”
Galatians 4:4–7
We receive adoption and become heirs.
In chapter 8 we see once again that there is a line to be crossed with God. Have you ever gotten so far away from God that when you pray it feels like he’s not there? Or have you ever been making a decision and felt like something was telling you not to make that decision but you did it anyway? This is exactly where the Israelites are in this chapter. In verse 13 God says that the Israelites are still going through the motions of what God has instructed them to do as far as repentance but he doesn’t accept them. The Israelites have gotten so far away from God that if they heard instruction or guidance from him they wouldn’t know it was God speaking to them. Once this line is crossed God’s judgment, time and time again comes. I have been to the point where I felt like God didn’t accept my prayers and I have also been to the point of going to church and feeling like “why am I even here?” This all stems from our decisions and choices to either follow God or follow what our instincts (our flesh) want us to do. The more we shut God out the more distant we become. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have a genuine repenting heart. Without it, you will slowly but surely distance yourself away from God. God loves us enough to bring us to our knees to bring us back to him. He also loves us enough to sacrifice himself for us even though most of the time we shut him out. Decide that today you are going to be patient enough to seek God in your decisions and actions. Understand that you were never meant to walk this life without him. Give God the reigns and see where he takes you. We were created to be able to rest by still waters which is peace. Our God is the good shepherd. Use your free will to belong to him and live this life in his will. Love y’all. Have a great day!
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