What Are You Searching For?

Hosea continued...

Scripture:
Hosea 4:10-19 (ESV)

They shall eat, but not be satisfied;
    they shall play the whore, but not multiply,
because they have forsaken the Lord
    to cherish whoredom, wine, and new wine,
    which take away the understanding.
My people inquire of a piece of wood,
    and their walking staff gives them oracles.
For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray,
    and they have left their God to play the whore.
They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains
    and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
    because their shade is good.

Therefore your daughters play the whore,
    and your brides commit adultery.
I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,
    nor your brides when they commit adultery;
for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes
    and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,
and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

Though you play the whore, O Israel,
    let not Judah become guilty.
Enter not into Gilgal,
    nor go up to Beth-aven,
    and swear not, “As the Lord lives.”
Like a stubborn heifer,
    Israel is stubborn;
can the Lord now feed them
    like a lamb in a broad pasture?

Ephraim is joined to idols;
    leave him alone.
When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring;   their rulers dearly love shame.
A wind has wrapped them in its wings,
    and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Devotional:

People are searching for something.  People search for anything.  There is a void or emptiness inside that cannot be filled.  The priests and profits allowed the Israel nation to go astray.  They sought other gods and worshiped idols.  God was displeased, hurt, and angry.  His chosen people left and sought out a new “husband.”  Eventually though they would find themselves empty.  Something big would be missing.  In the end they would eventually realize their mistakes.  God would allow hardships and even exile.  God would turn over His people to their enemies.  Unfortunately, ignorance is not an excuse.  Ignorance does not give you a “get out of jail free” card.  The end of verse 14 states, “and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.”

Today people are searching.  People are hungry. But they do not realize what it is they are searching for.  They do not what they hunger for.  Ignorance is not bliss.  If you walk through a mine field not knowing the mines are not there will not prevent you from stepping on one.  Not knowing Jesus will not lead you to heaven.  On that last day of judgement each and everyone of us will stand before God.  Claiming ignorance will not give you a pass.  Romans 14:11 (ESV) “for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’”

Are you hungry?  Are you searching?  God is the only one who can fill and satisfy that void in your heart, in your life.  Do not let false teaching lead you astray.  Do not let lies fill your head.  Seek out the truth.  Seek out the only one who can save.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and life.