The word “know” in Hebrew is used to describe the relationship between a man and his wife; it’s meant to convey the most intimate experience that is humanly possible. To know God is more than an intellectual exercise; it’s an intimate relationship that is built on constant contact. Strong marriages are built on the foundation of knowledge; to love someone we must know them. But Hosea tells Israel, “You’re ruined because you don’t know.”
Hosea’s marriage to Gomer was bad. Despite all that Hosea tried to do for Gomer, she never really took the time to know him. Though she had 3 children, two of the children were conceived outside the marriage. Gomer’s lack of knowledge of Hosea led to trouble for her. Before she knew it, she was enslaved to another man.
When we don’t know God, we make ourselves candidates for estrangement. Someone is asking the question, “With all that’s going on, where is God?” Well, “God is where God has always been. God hasn’t left the relationship.” It wasn’t Hosea who left Gomer, but Gomer left Hosea. And it isn’t God who has left us, but we have abandoned the marriage. And as a result, we find ourselves enslaved to circumstances and forces and conditions that care nothing about us.
When Gomer found herself enslaved, it would have been easy for Hosea to let her stay that way. But God told Hosea, “Go get your wife and bring her back into your house. I want you to love her just like I love Israel.”
If we don’t know God, the good news is that God has provided a remedy for our situation. We don’t always love God, but God always loves us; we’re not always faithful to God, but God is always faithful to us; we may estrange ourselves from God, but God has not left us in a state of estrangement. God sent paid a great price to redeem us, to bring healing to our relationship, to rescue us from our own mistakes—Jesus, our Christ!
(We invite your comments. Feel free to share this devotion with your friends and invite them to subscribe by forwarding their email address to the Pastor at: fredjeffsmith@gmail.com)
Mornings with Shiloh airs on WVLA Channel 33 each weekday at 6:58 a. m. CST. Mornings with Shiloh is available on our Youtube channel at 8:00 a.m. CST.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO ACCESS OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/@ShilohMBCBR/videos
Want to get more involved at Shiloh?
Browse our Ministries