Maybe We Need to Take A Closer Look.

It seems as if every day there is another tragedy resulting from the anger and rage that has invaded this nation. Rage that wants to strike out and bring harm to someone else, someone they think is the cause of all of their problems. Whether it be the victims of racial injustice and systemic racism; or the burnt out police force that has dealt with one too many perpetrators of crime, (or someone innocent that looks like them). Whatever the case, the "cause" has been taken to the streets – and the result is anguish and grief.

Maybe we need to take a closer look at what one of the prophets of old spoke to a nation that had forgotten their God:

Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel!
The Lord has brought charges against you, saying:
"There is no faithfulness, no kindness,
no knowledge of God in your land.
² You make vows and break them;
you kill and steal and commit adultery.
There is violence everywhere—
one murder after another.
³ That is why your land is in mourning,
and everyone is wasting away. Hosea 4:1-3 (NLT)

Hosea suffered much in his personal life because God took his life and made it an example to graphically exhibit he love God had for Israel even though they were an unfaithful and sinful nation. Even as Hosea was called to reclaim his wife Gomer who had prostituted herself in the marketplace, so God wanted to bring backslidden Israel back unto Himself. He thought by speaking through Hosea of the condition of their hearts, and the resulting effect on their nation that something in them would rise up and want to repent.  However, just as Gomer returned to her prostitution after the love of a good man, so Israel kept returning to the bodega of their sin. 

We have suffered through over three months of watching a nation suffer from an invisible disease. People of all ages were attacked and many never returned to health. We have seem violence erupt in places all over the country in response to the senseless killing (before our eyes no less) of George Floyd. We have read of one account after another of people who were never tried and found guilty – rather in their innocence they died after jogging or even in their bed at home. Outcries have permeated, yet have we looked close enough to see if there is not a larger problem? Could it be that our collective sins have come up before our nation to the extent that they have erupted into fires that are burning right now in various places? Has the spirit of "I’m going to get you, before you get me" taken over our land? Have politicians and so called leaders instead of promoting peace and reconciliation, do in fact want the unbridled passions to continue in the destruction of our cities? 

What can be brought before the Lord to redeem our sins and heal or land;  another prophet has the answer:

​What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
⁷ Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?

⁸ No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:6-8 (NLT)

​Maria