Reading… and Thinking

Who is wise?  He will realize these things.
Who is discerning?  He will understand them.
The ways of the Lord are right;
  the righteous walk in them,
  but the rebellious stumble in them.

— Hosea 14:9 (NIV)

What are “these things” that the wise can see and appreciate? This is the final verse of Hosea’s prophecy, so it may refer to everything he has said. But for sure it would refer to what came just before it. The short chapter that ends with this verse makes these points:

• When you sin, you need to repent and turn back to God.
• Men, no matter how powerful, cannot save you.
• God is unbelievably, fabulously merciful. He is not only willing to welcome the rebel who repents, He promises blessings almost beyond description.
• Idolatry is just plain stupid. Those gods don’t exist.

This last verse is actually a parable, right? Two people walking, trying to find the way. One is able to walk, but the other is stumbling.

If you are lost and trying to find your way, it only makes your situation worse to deny that you’re lost, to brush off help, claiming that you know what you’re doing. If someone offers you a map, and you refuse to look at it, you are a fool. If you have a map that doesn’t match the landscape, it’s worthless.

But so many are certain they know the way to conduct their life and need no help, or they say they have to struggle through it their own way, or they are following some false hope.

The ways of the Lord are right. Morally right, yes, and also correct, if we look at the outcome. Other ways are simply the wrong way. Morally wrong, and also they don’t go where you want to go!

If you are wise enough, you’ll be able to see that the one genuine, living God knows you, He knows what life is about, and He can help you. You’ll be able to walk, in the terms of this little parable. Which means two things: you’ll be able to make your way successfully through life’s pitfalls, and you’ll arrive at a worthwhile destination. But if you are rebellious, you will stumble – this life will be hard, and unsatisfying. And you’ll never arrive anywhere.

The offer is there. Why not be wise?