The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Hosea 7:11,
"Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria."
As Israel became desperate due to the poor choices they made as a nation, rather than turning to God for help and deliverance, they turned to either the big power to the south, Egypt or the big power to the north, Assyria. It has been said that Israel at this time was like a house cat caught in an alley with a ferocious tiger at each end, Egypt on the one end and Assyria on the other. Israel sought alliance with one or the other. Eventually it would be the big cat from the north, Assyria that would consume Israel.
Although God said he desired to redeem them, verse 13, he observed that Israel refused to turn to him for help, verse 16. Sadly, it had been forgotten that God loved them and was, in fact, the only one that could help them. As Israel turned to her powerful neighbors for help, it was these very neighbors that God used to bring his judgment against them.
This morning I am reminded that God is the only one that is a reliable help in time of need. He is the one that can deliver. He is the one who has the power to provide all that is ever needed, regardless the circumstances. "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:9-10. Another wonderful passage that speaks to this is Psalm 34:7-8, "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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