How Would We Each Survive Alone?
Good Morning Friends,
Over the weekend I watched a few episodes of the History Channel reality series called Alone. This season follows the self-documented daily struggles of 10 individuals as they survive in the wilderness of Mongolia for as long as possible using a limited amount of survival equipment. And I wonder. How Would We Each Survive Alone?
Scripture: Top of Form
On that day, says the Lord, you will call me, “My husband,” and no longer will you call me, “My Baal.” For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. I will make for you a covenant on that day with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. On that day I will answer, says the Lord, I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth; and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel;
Hosea 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22 (NRSV)
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.
Matthew 9:18-26 (NRSV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrew 11:6 (NRSV)
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NRSV)
Message: Israel is a prime example of a people, a nation, who believed that they could do things on their own. Ironically, they were unable to free themselves from Egyptian captivity. God had to do it. They were unable to provide food for themselves, so God provided manna and quail for them to eat. When they arrived at the Red Sea, they could not cross it, so God created a way for them to cross. And yet, poor Israel still believed they did not need God despite the many signs and signals along the way.
Now, the setting of Hosea is interesting to me for it echoes this same problem. Hosea began his ministry during the end of the prosperous but morally declining reign of Jeroboam II. The upper class was doing well, but they were oppressing the poor. The whole message of the Book of Hosea is God’s expressing his love for his people, his creation. Throughout this book we read of the great measures that God took to bring his people back into right relationship with him. It portrays God as the aggressor, and the pursuer and the seeker. Our text comes after God calls Hosea to marry a prostitute, Gomer. They marry, have three children, God gives them some very interesting names, and then explains the purpose of this calling to Hosea. They are names all ominous of woe, perhaps designed for Hosea to sympathize with the Lord’s sorrow for those in his human family who live and die without God. Gomer leaves, just as Israel left. But Hosea seeks his wife, just as God seeks his people. Hosea finds her, welcomes her back as his wife, just as God welcomes back those who turn to him. The key to this message is found in the love of God for if people we humble themselves and pray and seek God and turn from their evil ways God will forgive and heal.
Pray we have an agenda that includes others. Pray we love with the heart of God. Pray we realize that our faith may well be a deciding factor when it comes to getting our prayers answered in the affirmative, but that sometimes it is the faithful prayers of others interceding on our behalf that make the difference. Pray that no matter what storms we face we know that we have a shelter… a refuge… and a place of safety in God. Pray we wait patiently. Pray we walk prayerfully. Pray we worship passionately. Pray we take refuge in God knowing that God’s love is always there and that Jesus’ Spirit will never leave us alone. Pray we realize that it is God who will restore us if we are humble enough to ask.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 