Faith, Trust, Alliances

Scripture:
Hosea 8:5-7 (ESV)

I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.
    My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of innocence?
For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it; it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
   shall be broken to pieces.

For they sow the wind,
    and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
    it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
    strangers would devour it.

Devotional:

Idols, worshiping false gods, making poor alliances, trusting in the wrong people or things, does any of this sound familiar?  How often have you or I been there done that?  The Jewish people put their trust, hope, and alliances in the wrong places.  They built idols to worship.  As a result, look what happened.  They became a conquered people.  Other nations could not save them.  The gods they worshiped could not save them.  Hosea is giving them warning of their follies and what the consequences will be.

Have you ever thought about the people you hang out with?  What about those you turn to and trust?  Are we trusting and blindly putting faith in another god?  In today’s fast pace society it is really easy to get caught up in everything going on around us.  I know I tend to get caught up in technology.  I love playing with new stuff.  If I am not careful, I can put too much into money or material things.  After all, if you need something just go buy it.   If you want it purchase it.  With too much wealth it would become too easy to not trust in God for my provisions.  We can also put our trust in the wrong people.  It is important to seek council from the right person.  We become like those we are around the most.  That is why it is important to make sure we are around Godly men and women.  In doing so we gain more wisdom and help hold one another accountable.  Together it is easier to stay on the right course.  With the wrong crowd it is easy to stray off course.

Hosea gives us a lot of insight on many things.  Today focus on two things.  First who is it you are with the most, your alliances?  Second what do you put your faith and trust in?  Are you choosing wisely?  It isn’t too late to make changes…