12th Week in Ordinary Time
They did not listen, but were as stiff-necked as their fathers. (2 Kings 17:14)
King Hoshea of Israel was caught between a rock and a hard place. He had become a vassal to the king of Assyria. But that alliance made him uneasy, so he hedged his bets. He sent envoys to Egypt, the hostile power on the other side of Israel, hoping for a rival alliance to shield him against Assyria. Getting wind of this was all the excuse Assyria needed to take Hoshea prisoner and decimate Israel. Summing it all up, the author of 2 Kings explains why Israel really failed: the people relied on human help instead of divine power.
Does this assessment sound familiar? When we face a challenge, it’s not unusual to muster all our human resources to find a solution. Perhaps it lies in medicine, preferably a miracle drug. Maybe a new political leader will offer a fresh start. Maybe counseling can help us sort out our perplexity. Perhaps a new investment strategy will help secure our future.
These are all good approaches—but they can take us only so far. They can help resolve individual challenges and problems, but none of them can offer us a vision for our lives that will sustain us and guide us no matter what comes our way. Only God can do that! Hoshea failed because instead of seeking guidance from the Lord through his prophets, he immediately chose a deceptive political strategy. Perhaps he was doomed to fail no matter what he did, but he never even gave the Lord a chance to help him out. That’s the tragedy.
Hoshea’s story stands as a warning to us, so let’s heed it well. Let’s make it a point to turn to the Lord first rather than as the last resort. Let’s face every challenge with the proclamation, “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). This is the foundational truth of our human situation, and it is the foundation for our life of faith. We depend on God from beginning to end.
So never forget that God is committed to working out his great and glorious purposes in your life. Never forget that he wants to bring only good to those who love him and seek his direction (Romans 8:28).
“Lord of heaven and earth, you are my only hope. I place all my trust in you.”
Psalm 60:3-5, 12-13; Matthew 7:1-5
Daily Marriage Tip for June 23, 2014:
Start the day with a hug. It gives you a positive mentality.