Becoming too big for your boots.

Are they like Jacob?

Did they have a Jabbok River experience?

Did they have a Peniel experience?

Did they come back to Bethel?

Did they practice loving kindness, mercy and justice with one another?

Did they return to waiting on God?

“The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.” “I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.” (Hosea 12 v 7-10)

They are a merchant who cheats because they alter the scales so that the weight looks a certain amount but it isn’t the truth.

They have moved the goalposts for their convenience.

They have taken the Bible and change the interpretation and understanding of it so that they can live as the world lives.

God says, His people have placed themselves above accountability. Whether in wealth, popularity of position no one is above being held accountable especially before their God.

Riches, fame and title can easily lead to entitlement. Entitlement says, ‘no one can touch me.’ Touch not the wealthy, the famous and the anointed. Many an old man or woman have lived like this and even in their old age and towards the end of their long working life judgment has come.

God’s response, “Hey! Over here! Remember Me?!”

“I was the one who brought you out of Egypt. I was the one who brought you out of those wilderness tents. And I am the one who can put you back into them! And you will have no excuse. For I have spoken through the prophets down the generations and you have and are still not listening!”

You have become too big for your boots. But you are never too big.

These timeless words could be spoken today. The day of the Minor Prophet is not over.