There is always a price to pray when we walk away from God.
“I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer. Give them, Lord—what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.” (Hosea 9 v 13-14)
When the glory of God is exchanged for idolatry then fruitlessness is the result. Growth is hindered because blessing has stopped and the potential (because Ephraim means doubly fruitful) is not fulfilled. Ephraim who lived in a pleasant place had enough things to look at to think they will be okay. They were surrounded by blessings and yet even pleasant places can experience the slayer.
God has stepped back.
Whenever we move from the Creator to the created for our satisfaction we lose.
Hosea cries out with a prayer asking for God’s help. But then realises that actually it is more merciful to cut off the future generation because of what is coming from the Assyrian nation.
Is that applicable to us in 2023 if we lose the glory of God?
Paul in Romans says to us the wages of sin is death meaning there are consequences to walking from God. This is why the enemy of our soul is working to redefine sin and to make sin more acceptable. To water down the Bible. To make sure Churches create false fire so that the deception is created that God is fine with idolatry. He is not. The consequences that Hosea realised remain today. Judgement continues to fall on the House of God. Celebrity heroes continue to fall and more will do so. Legacies are robbed and cut off. But not all. For those who return there is hope. Amen.
Missions Paul 