Diseased

Hosea 1-7

My friend Ron was recently underwent surgery to remove cancer from his throat, mouth, and tongue. He was supposed to go home yesterday or today, but an infection cropped up and they needed to go back in for surgery again today. When attacked by cancer or infection, the body is designed to fight the disease and do whatever is necessary to clan it out... white blood cells sacrifice themselves so that the cells may live... and sometimes we need outside help from doctors, medicine and/or surgery.

It was into just such a situation that God called Hosea. The northern tribes of Israel, led by Ephraim were filled with disease. God characterized it as saying they were playing the harlot, but the intent was clear. He set forth a standard of purity and holiness through a covenant with them, and they broke the covenant and played the harlot with other gods. So God told Hosea to take Gomer, a prostitute, for his wife, so that he could understand how God felt... so that the nation of Israel would know... and change their evil ways, but they refused.

Israel refused... just like our bodies refuse... and then drastic action is required.