When I read about the plight of God's covenant people in the Book of
Hosea, I cannot but think about the crisis among black people today in
their stride for freedom.
During the time of Hosea, the Israelites had not been for too long a people whom God had set free from the bondage of Egypt. They were God's chosen people who had been in captivity and had cried out to Jehovah God to set them free from the shackles of slavery. Their God heard their cry and delivered them from the tasks of their slave masters.
Having now been miraculously delivered out of Egypt, God then began to lead them through the wilderness to the promised land. However, He first had to teach them lessons in how to trust Him for their provisions. He wanted them to get a firsthand experience of how He could provide for them in their walk with Him if they obeyed His laws, and looked to Him in faith.
As an essential part of their training in the wilderness, God gave them His laws which they were to live by and to teach to their children (Deuteronomy 4:9). Concerning God's laws, they were explicitly told that obedience to the law of God would bring about blessings, but disobedience would bring down God's judgment upon them. "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God...and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). The evidence of this truth was repeatedly demonstrated to them, but they, being a stiffnecked people, continually disobeyed God's laws and oftentimes they suffered calamities and misfortunes at the hand of God.
Sometime later, Hosea, God's prophet, came upon the scene, and he too began to warn his people concerning God's judgment for rejecting the laws of God. We read in the book of Hosea these words: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame" (Hosea 4:6-7).
Notice here in this passage that Hosea warns the children of Israel of God's impending judgment that would come upon them for rejecting the laws of God.. Because of Israel's pernicious ways, they would perish in the land.
Let me make an assertion here that is wise to take notice of, and that is, God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). Although the Israelites are God's covenant people, God did not spare them from His divine judgment that brought upon them grievous and painful suffering because they transgressed God's laws. The Holy Scripture tells us in Isaiah 55:11b that, "It [God's Word] shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Let me hasten to say here, that if God allowed grievous suffering to come upon His own covenant people because they rebelled against the knowledge of God, that any people, be they black, white, or yellow, will perish in their ways and suffer much affliction if they choose to rebel against the laws of Almighty God.
As we look further at this passage, let us deal with Hosea's first admonition to the children of Israel. "...because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me..." (Hosea 4:6).
A Warning to Black America
As I read here about how God warned Israel, His covenant people, through the prophet Hosea, that He would reject them and they would no longer be His priest (people) because they rejected knowledge of His ways, I am reminded of the spiritual crisis in the African- American community. I believe that the words of Hosea spoken to His people in Biblical times are being echoed to Black America today -- "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Similarities Between African-Americans and the Israelites
I suppose that just as the Jews considered themselves to be "special" in the eyes of God, African-Americans also think of themselves as dear to the heart of God, as well, because they, too, have suffered as a people in this country. Had not Israel, God's covenant people, experienced a similar situation as slaves in the land of Egypt? And when the children of Israel cried out to their God concerning their affliction, did not God hear their cries and deliver them from bondage? What about African-Americans? Did not God hear the moanings and groanings of the African slaves and deliver them from bondage? Had not God demonstrated His bountiful love when He chose to intervene in this human tragedy and identify Himself with the poor, suffering African slaves as He had done for His covenant people, who had been in captivity in a strange land?
A Mutual Oversight
A salient fact that both the children of Israel and African- Americans seemed to have overlooked in their thinking was that, although God is a merciful and compassionate God Who identifies with the suffering of all people, He is also a righteous and just God Who does not wink at sin (Acts 17:30). God's holy laws are immutable, and whoever transgresses the laws of God must suffer divine judgment. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).
As Hosea, God's prophet, warned the Israelites that calamity would come upon them and that they would perish in their ways because they transgressed God's laws and had rejected the laws of God, so shall it be for Black America as they, themselves, transgress God's holy and righteous laws, even though God has been very good to them.
Stride Toward Freedom
We, as blacks, in our "stride toward freedom" have committed the same atrocity as did God's covenant people. That is, we have turned our backs upon the very God who delivered us out of bondage. Throughout Biblical history, God constantly reminded Israel, in her journey to the "promised land," that He was the Lord God Who delivered them from out of the land of Egypt. This reminder was enunciated by God and the patriarchs of old. Why? Because Israel turned away from the law of God and went after idol gods. Israel, in her stride toward the "promised land," fell away into the sin of idolatry and turned away from God who had served as her Deliverer, Protector, and Provider in her pilgrimage to the land of "milk and honey."
The Crisis Among African-American People Today
As I ponder over Hosea's warning to the people of His day and learn how they forfeited the blessings of God because they rejected knowledge of God's laws, I cannot help but to think how we as blacks have transgressed God's holy laws and violated Scriptural principles in our stride toward the "promised land"--the place of freedom and blessing.
During the years following the Civil Rights Movement, it was apparent, even to the casual spectator, that blacks, in their struggle for justice and equality, were exceedingly blessed of God, in their struggle to be free and to gain their civil rights, which had been so long denied them. One may say that God had even opened up opportunities that we seemed hardly prepared for in those times.. What had once seemed like it would take years to accomplish were quickly being achieved through Civil Rights legislation. Racial barriers that had stood for centuries were knocked down overnight. The only truthful explanation that anyone could offer for such mighty exploits was that God had gloriously intervened into this human drama and was manifesting His goodness upon the lives of a people who wholly feared and trusted in His sovereign grace for deliverance. God had heard our prayer, and had come to divinely rescue a people from their afflictions, as He had so done for the Jews, His chosen people.
An Unswerving Faith
We, as blacks, may not have had much of anything going on in our lives at that time worthy to embrace and cherish. However, no one could deny that we had an unswerving faith in the living God, and that He would vindicate a people who stood for a cause that was righteous and just.. As a God of righteousness, God is pleased to vindicate a people who would trust in Him, and obey His holy laws. During those years, blacks revered and respected the laws of God. This is no longer the case.
A Forgotten Virtue
Today, it saddens my heart to have to say that this divine virtue has diminished in the lives of my people. Furthermore, I believe that the apathy that we as black people have, pertaining to God's holy and righteous laws, is an abomination in the eyes of God. Such apathy, I believe, has incurred God's judgment upon our people and has given rise to the many ills that plague African- Americans. God is never pleased with a people who have once been blessed and have tasted of His lovingkindness and then turn away from Him.
The words of Hosea are more evident in the lives of my people today than ever before: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." But praise be unto God, there is still a way back if we would take heed to the writer of II Chronicles in chapter seven and verse fourteen: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land." This powerful verse leads to my next chapter.
Having now been miraculously delivered out of Egypt, God then began to lead them through the wilderness to the promised land. However, He first had to teach them lessons in how to trust Him for their provisions. He wanted them to get a firsthand experience of how He could provide for them in their walk with Him if they obeyed His laws, and looked to Him in faith.
As an essential part of their training in the wilderness, God gave them His laws which they were to live by and to teach to their children (Deuteronomy 4:9). Concerning God's laws, they were explicitly told that obedience to the law of God would bring about blessings, but disobedience would bring down God's judgment upon them. "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God...and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). The evidence of this truth was repeatedly demonstrated to them, but they, being a stiffnecked people, continually disobeyed God's laws and oftentimes they suffered calamities and misfortunes at the hand of God.
Sometime later, Hosea, God's prophet, came upon the scene, and he too began to warn his people concerning God's judgment for rejecting the laws of God. We read in the book of Hosea these words: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame" (Hosea 4:6-7).
Notice here in this passage that Hosea warns the children of Israel of God's impending judgment that would come upon them for rejecting the laws of God.. Because of Israel's pernicious ways, they would perish in the land.
Let me make an assertion here that is wise to take notice of, and that is, God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). Although the Israelites are God's covenant people, God did not spare them from His divine judgment that brought upon them grievous and painful suffering because they transgressed God's laws. The Holy Scripture tells us in Isaiah 55:11b that, "It [God's Word] shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Let me hasten to say here, that if God allowed grievous suffering to come upon His own covenant people because they rebelled against the knowledge of God, that any people, be they black, white, or yellow, will perish in their ways and suffer much affliction if they choose to rebel against the laws of Almighty God.
As we look further at this passage, let us deal with Hosea's first admonition to the children of Israel. "...because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me..." (Hosea 4:6).
A Warning to Black America
As I read here about how God warned Israel, His covenant people, through the prophet Hosea, that He would reject them and they would no longer be His priest (people) because they rejected knowledge of His ways, I am reminded of the spiritual crisis in the African- American community. I believe that the words of Hosea spoken to His people in Biblical times are being echoed to Black America today -- "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Similarities Between African-Americans and the Israelites
I suppose that just as the Jews considered themselves to be "special" in the eyes of God, African-Americans also think of themselves as dear to the heart of God, as well, because they, too, have suffered as a people in this country. Had not Israel, God's covenant people, experienced a similar situation as slaves in the land of Egypt? And when the children of Israel cried out to their God concerning their affliction, did not God hear their cries and deliver them from bondage? What about African-Americans? Did not God hear the moanings and groanings of the African slaves and deliver them from bondage? Had not God demonstrated His bountiful love when He chose to intervene in this human tragedy and identify Himself with the poor, suffering African slaves as He had done for His covenant people, who had been in captivity in a strange land?
A Mutual Oversight
A salient fact that both the children of Israel and African- Americans seemed to have overlooked in their thinking was that, although God is a merciful and compassionate God Who identifies with the suffering of all people, He is also a righteous and just God Who does not wink at sin (Acts 17:30). God's holy laws are immutable, and whoever transgresses the laws of God must suffer divine judgment. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).
As Hosea, God's prophet, warned the Israelites that calamity would come upon them and that they would perish in their ways because they transgressed God's laws and had rejected the laws of God, so shall it be for Black America as they, themselves, transgress God's holy and righteous laws, even though God has been very good to them.
Stride Toward Freedom
We, as blacks, in our "stride toward freedom" have committed the same atrocity as did God's covenant people. That is, we have turned our backs upon the very God who delivered us out of bondage. Throughout Biblical history, God constantly reminded Israel, in her journey to the "promised land," that He was the Lord God Who delivered them from out of the land of Egypt. This reminder was enunciated by God and the patriarchs of old. Why? Because Israel turned away from the law of God and went after idol gods. Israel, in her stride toward the "promised land," fell away into the sin of idolatry and turned away from God who had served as her Deliverer, Protector, and Provider in her pilgrimage to the land of "milk and honey."
The Crisis Among African-American People Today
As I ponder over Hosea's warning to the people of His day and learn how they forfeited the blessings of God because they rejected knowledge of God's laws, I cannot help but to think how we as blacks have transgressed God's holy laws and violated Scriptural principles in our stride toward the "promised land"--the place of freedom and blessing.
During the years following the Civil Rights Movement, it was apparent, even to the casual spectator, that blacks, in their struggle for justice and equality, were exceedingly blessed of God, in their struggle to be free and to gain their civil rights, which had been so long denied them. One may say that God had even opened up opportunities that we seemed hardly prepared for in those times.. What had once seemed like it would take years to accomplish were quickly being achieved through Civil Rights legislation. Racial barriers that had stood for centuries were knocked down overnight. The only truthful explanation that anyone could offer for such mighty exploits was that God had gloriously intervened into this human drama and was manifesting His goodness upon the lives of a people who wholly feared and trusted in His sovereign grace for deliverance. God had heard our prayer, and had come to divinely rescue a people from their afflictions, as He had so done for the Jews, His chosen people.
An Unswerving Faith
We, as blacks, may not have had much of anything going on in our lives at that time worthy to embrace and cherish. However, no one could deny that we had an unswerving faith in the living God, and that He would vindicate a people who stood for a cause that was righteous and just.. As a God of righteousness, God is pleased to vindicate a people who would trust in Him, and obey His holy laws. During those years, blacks revered and respected the laws of God. This is no longer the case.
A Forgotten Virtue
Today, it saddens my heart to have to say that this divine virtue has diminished in the lives of my people. Furthermore, I believe that the apathy that we as black people have, pertaining to God's holy and righteous laws, is an abomination in the eyes of God. Such apathy, I believe, has incurred God's judgment upon our people and has given rise to the many ills that plague African- Americans. God is never pleased with a people who have once been blessed and have tasted of His lovingkindness and then turn away from Him.
The words of Hosea are more evident in the lives of my people today than ever before: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." But praise be unto God, there is still a way back if we would take heed to the writer of II Chronicles in chapter seven and verse fourteen: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land." This powerful verse leads to my next chapter.
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