HOSEA

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The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Prov. 2:12 Walking in the night of sin and disobedience, Israel can go in but one direction and that is the wrong direction. In seeking solace and help they turned to Assyria. Assyria would do them no good, only harm them as an instrument in the hand of the Lord to punish them. Eze. 23:9-10 That could only mean further decadency and loss of well being. Their character is then likened to a wild ass. A beast, untamed and running wild. They had fallen so deeply into their sin and had become so undesirable that they had to hire lovers. The description given by Hosea places them at the very lowest rank of humanity. They were despised and rejected by all. Hos. 8:8.

Amazing love. As despicable as they had become to both the Lord and the people among whom they were scattered, the Lord was set to gather them unto Himself. Astonishing, utterly startling, most wonderful is the love of the Lord. He reaches out to mankind in their moment of complete depravity. For all their unfaithfulness to Him and their absolute casting aside of all that was Godly, still He loved them. Like the smell of the prodigal, which was no doubt comparable to that of a pig sty, the stench of the idolatrous, ungodly world was on them. Hos. 8:9.

There is but one way back into the good graces of the Lord. That way is His way. Jesus said; I am the way, the truth, and the life: and no man comes to the Father, but by me. John 14:6 Race has no bearing on being accepted in the beloved of the Lord. It is by His grace and His grace alone that we are saved and have eternal life. In saving humanity, in gathering them unto Himself, the Lord no longer differentiates between the Gentiles and these whom He scattered abroad. Hos.8:10 There is but one door and Jesus is that door. John 10:7-9 In the process of entering into that door, there is a time of sorrow and confession of our sin. Ps. 38:18 Sin is the most depressing and discouraging force of a human life. It is a burden far too heavy for one to bear. Ps. 38:4 In salvation, Jesus lifts the burden and condemnation of sin. Thus freeing us from it‚ guilt and power. Jesus took the full punishment for the sin of the world upon Himself when He went to Calvary. 1 Peter 2:24 As the highest authority in time and the universe. The totally innocent one, the Lord Jesus, the KING of kings and LORD of Lords took the total burden of sin for all mankind. It now makes no difference how or where one is born, Jesus will save all who come unto Him. Including the ten lost tribes of Israel. Therefore, as the King of eternity He will extend to one and all the opportunity to enter into His kingdom. To be a part of that which is eternal and everlasting, Jew, Gentile or wandering descendents of ancient Israel, He is not willing that any should perish but has called all to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

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