A VANISHING ACT

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!” Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.”

Hosea 13:1-3

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

What happens when a nation acts as if it is bigger than the God who blessed them with the ability to rise to prominence?

We find the answer today in the opening verses of Hosea 13. Look again at the words of God here:

When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!” Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.”  Hosea 13:1-3

Note here the status that the nation of Israel had achieved. They were the people of God and through His blessing and provision had risen to be exalted among all the nations. No one dared mess with Israel for if they did, they would surely face defeat for it was known throughout the land that the Israelites had God on their side, a God who had shown His infinite power and might over and over again as He delivered His people from their enemies.

But something happened. Something terrible and so incredibly foolish.

The Israelites decided to turn their affection and devotion away from God.

It’s true. Mere human beings decided to completely abandon and disregard the very God who had made them, the God who was their only lifeline to protection and sustenance. They chose instead to worship the pagan god Baal, their craftsmen making “cleverly fashioned images” and “idols for themselves from their silver.” The people even went as far to offer human sacrifices to the false gods and idols. That’s how far they were gone, how far they had fallen into sin.

In essence, the people of God had exalted themselves over Him. They were showing they were on their own program, chasing after their own desires instead of His word and will for their lives. Through their actions, it would appear as if God had disappeared from their lives altogether.

But they couldn’t have been more wrong. For God was about to show that He was very much still in control and able to make any nation vanish who wrongs Him. Here’s how He put it in regard to Israel:

“Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.”

Maybe you have seen morning dew. It is wet and moist upon the grass at the earliest dawn of a day. But then something happens. The dew disappears, vanishing as it evaporates or is absorbed by the ground. It doesn’t sustain.

This is what happened to the nation of Israel and its two kingdoms, Israel to the north and Judah to the south. One moment, they were a nation of stature. The next moment, they were gone, devastated by the Assyrians and Babylonians before being hauled away into captivity.

Indeed, it was quite a momentous vanishing act, only one that an all powerful God could pull off.

Israel wasn’t the only nation or empire to suffer this fate. In fact, go back in history and look at any major country or kingdom that every exalted itself over God, not serving to honor Him in any fashion, and you will find that the country or kingdom disappeared.

It happened to the Egyptians. It happened to the Assyrians. It happened to the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and any other major entity that rose to power and tried to rely on its own strength and fabricated gods and idols. None of them sustained. None.

Today, nothing has changed. Nations can rise up and flaunt their might all they want, espousing belief systems they think will sustain their supremacy in the world, but if they are not submissive and obedient to the word, will, and way of the Lord God Almighty then they will not only find their efforts were for not but they will eventually vanish, vanquished by the Maker and Master of everything in the heavens and on the earth.

In the end translations, the only nations who are going to truly prosper will be the ones who choose to honor and serve the Lord in all that they do, seeking and following His guidance and direction while ever striving to bring glory to His precious and holy name.

Does your nation do this?

Amen

In Christ,

Mark
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