SCRIPTURE: Hosea 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. [Hosea 5:6]
The people have ignored God for so long that when they finally go looking for Him, they will not find Him.
I have known people who never bothered with God for years, then in a time of crisis cried out to Him and were angry when He did not answer or help them.
Their heavenly bellboy refused to come running when they hollered for Him.
God is not silent, God is not absent, but in time He will withdraw from people to give them the space they seek.
And in that absence of God, they will experience misery.
In their misery they will earnestly seek me.” [Hosea 5:15]
The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ [Matthew 25:10-12]
In this parable, Jesus compares 5 wise with 5 foolish bridesmaids; when the time comes for the wedding, the foolish ones are not ready and after scrambling last minute they discover that the door is shut, the bridegroom has “withdrawn himself from them.”
Though we may not understand the marriage customs of the day, the point of this parable is clear – ignore God for too long, and one day it may be too late.
If you do not have time for God, why should God have time for you?
If you do not bother with God, why should God bother with you?
The amazing thing is that God does have time for us, and does bother with us, even though we ignore Him.
But He will allow us to experience His ‘absence’ for a season, to show us what life is like without Him, and to drive us to earnestly seek Him.
In their misery they will earnestly seek me.” [Hosea 5:15]
He does this throughout our lifetime, but Jesus also shows that one day it will be too late, that the door will shut for good.
God is not an ogre, God is not heartless or cruel; He is at work every day of your life blessing and helping and warning and appealing to you.
He uses the good and the bad things of life, times of blessing and times of struggle, to get attention, to show you your need for Him.
He will also stay silent when you call on Him, to allow you to fully experience what life is like without Him.
But His goal is always the same, to drive you to earnestly seek Him.
Don’t wait until it is too late, don’t wait until the door shuts for good.
For if we refuse to know Him in this lifetime, one day He will say back to us, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
PRAYER:
Lord, today’s reading is a reminder to take You seriously, to give You the love and attention You deserve. Thank You for Your patience with me. As I seek You today, may I find You and hear You say, ‘come in, one that I know and love!’
Man has fallen and is living for himself as king of the castle. They have become self-reliant, needing no one. Their help was in themselves and when they did need help they turned to another nation. Eventually, they may seek the Lord for all other options did not bring them what was needed. In their distress they will seek the Lord, but will they find?
Now is the time to serve Him. He stands at the door and we need to open to let Him in to rule. He is the answer. He is the cure to all our diseases and troubles. Seek Him while He may be found. Knock and the door will be opened. He is not hidden from us if we but live for Him. Yet if we live for ourselves, we will not find Him. Now is the time. Come clean. He is the answer
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space,
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.