Today’s passage: Hosea 10
Helpful thoughts:
- Israel did not do well with blessing. The more they flourished, the more they strayed from the Lord.
- Israel’s idolatrous calf was to be carried away by their conquering nation, the Assyrians. When the Assyrians rejoiced about their gods being stronger than the “god” of Israel (The calf), it would be a bitter reminder to Israel that they had abandoned the Lord.
- We reap what we sow. There are consequences in this life for what we do. But, when we turn to the Lord, He rains righteousness on us (Romans 4:3)
Questions to consider:
- Why are people prone to abandon the Lord when they are doing well financially, physically, etc.? If God only comes to the forefront of our minds when we sense we are in desperate need, how are we viewing God?
- If I had a “calf” that would be carried away and called by observers, “My god”, what would it be? What might I be prone to trust in first before I go to God?
- What does it look like when a sinner repents? His salvation and justification are gifts of God’s grace! Then, what does his life look like? How does it change?