THE NEVER-ENDING LOVE OF HOSEA (5) – DIVINE OBSTRUCTION

Here we see God blocking the path rebellious Isreal has taken, trying to run away from Him (Hosea 2:6-8). The hedge of thorns is a barrier, a painful restraint; every step toward sin meets with resistance. This is a form of discipline. Thorns symbolize pain and difficulty resulting from the curse of sin (Gen 3:18). The barrier is placed by God to prevent progress, to stop Isreal from continuing towards idolatry. The next blockage is a wall, a more permanent and difficult barrier to overcome. God is determined to stop Isreal’s backsliding. He isolates Isreal from going on her sinful paths. This caging is not to destroy Isreal, but to arrest him, so that he can repent and come back to God. This is a proof that God disciplines His children. He actively intervenes when His people backslide. Because of God’s hindrance on the path, Israel is unable to pursue her own foolish desires. The inability to “find her way” means loss of direction and purpose, a common consequence of turning away from God. All backsliders become spiritually blind and confused. “We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places” (Isa 59:10). God’s blocking is an act of judgment mixed with mercy. Spiritual barriers are meant to redirect us towards God, not just to punish or frustrate us. God’s discipline is a sign of His love for our ultimate good and for God’s glory!

BACKSLIDING

Backsliding refers to the act of relapsing into bad habits, undesirable behaviours, or lower standards of morality and performance after a period of improvement or commitment to better behaviour. It means to go back, “one step front and two steps back”.  In Christianity, it refers to a believer going back into sin, falling away from faith, or ignoring spiritual habits. It is an interruption in spiritual growth. In other words, backsliding means to walk in the flesh. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). It is God’s will that all “baby Christians” walk in the faith, and pay the price to grow spiritually, becoming mothers and fathers in Christ.  Backsliding is a serious sin because it is failure to grow up spiritually, doing God’s will. Spiritually, you either grow, moving forward, or you backslide. You cannot stay neutral. It is only a child of God that can backslide. An unbeliever cannot backslide because he was always living in sin. A child of God cannot lose his salvation. God promised to chastise His children and bring the backsliders back to Him. A backslider does not lose his salvation. But a backslider always loses blessings. He loses the joy of his salvation, fellowship with God and man, opportunities for ministry, and rewards. These are serious losses, but he has not lost his identity as a child of God. If “a backslider” dies in sin, and does not repent before his death, it means that he was never saved. He was a religious unbeliever. When backsliders decide to return to Christ, they find that they do not pick up where they left off. Instead, they have slid backwards and soon discover that they are less spiritual now than when they first began to slide. Backsliding is not a sin that cannot be forgiven. The cure for backsliding is to return to Christ as Lord and reconcile with Him with all your heart. Selah!

SIGNS OF BACKSLIDING (Deut 4:25-31)

These are the gradual steps towards backsliding: internal corruption, making idols and living in open sins:

*Moral Corruption happens when departing from God’s laws. It means lowering the standard of your conscience. You know what is best in life and you aim towards that standard. Then the devil tempts you to lower that standard. Immediately you become spiritually and morally corrupted. Corruption is a decay of character and testimony. It is characterized by dishonesty, deception, selfishness, lack of remorse, rationalization of sin, and abandonment of integrity for personal gain or power. Corruption has a “Moral Numbing” Effect. Initially, immoral actions create discomfort, but over time, men become desensitized, making repeated sins easier to justify. It always negatively impacts the environment, leading to misuse of power (bribery, favouritism) for selfish gain, eroding public confidence and damaging society. Corruption connects with idolatry. Moral corruption is the opposite of Holiness. God is holy and He commanded us to be holy!

*Making idols: Anything in the heart that competes with God is an idol. A corrupted heart is an idol producing machine.

*Sinful open behaviour without feeling of shame or guilt.  

What is the Hope for an open backslider? Repentance! Coming back to God and asking for mercy! God has promised to receive you!

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF BACKSLIDING FROM GOMER’S STORY

*Restlessness. You become impatient, anxious. Like the waves of the sea, you can’t sit down still, can’t sleep well; you want to go out, do shopping, to have a change of scenery. You are moody and complaining. You are not grateful. You constantly chase after financial success or romantic breakthroughs, yet they never arrive. Observe these cycles: temporary highs followed by failure and emptiness.

*Secrecy. You are hiding your plans for success from mature spiritual people. You don’t want godly counsel. “Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, And their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and “Who knows us?” (Isa 29:15). This secrecy is not a mistake, but intentional rebellion, a “deeply hidden” effort to conceal plans and actions. This is foolish for none can hide from God. It is a sign of pride. “Woe” warns of judgment upon those who hide in darkness. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God after their disobedience. Jezebel used secret meetings, false witnesses, and lies to achieve her goals, but she was seen and punished by God.

I AM ENCLOSED BY GOD

“You have enclosed me behind and before, And [You have] placed Your hand upon me. Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it” (Ps 139:5,6; AMP). The Believer is enclosed, encircled, surrounded behind and before, by God Himself. This shows complete protection and guidance. He is like a city surrounded by high walls of defence. God protects “behind and before” because He is eternal, knowing past, present and future. Christ is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end (Rev 22:13). God’s hand in upon the believer. This shows present personal intimate touch, imparting authority and blessing. The hand of God represents power, provision, and protection. Believers lay hands on others in prayer, healing deliverance and blessings. God surrounds on every side—past (“behind”), future (“before”), and present (“hand upon me”).

The picture of being enclosed shows God’s control over circumstances, reminding us that nothing happens outside His will. Knowing that God has “laid His hand upon us” inspires us to trust His plan, even when we cannot see the full picture, especially in times of fear and uncertainty. God’s Cage means safety (nothing reaches us without first passing thru Him). When Satan wanted to attack Job, he could not do it because God surrounded him. Satan complained to God: “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land” (Job 1:10). God’s surrounding presence is like the mother eagle’s wings carrying his babies. It gives us stability even when we are weak. “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut 33:27). During evil attacks, God defends us and we experience supernatural deliverance. “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him” (Ps 34:7). Praise the Lord!

Lessons: because God is “behind” we shall have no regrets. God has redeemed what we cannot change. He has covered our mistakes. Because God is “before” we are not afraid of the future. He guides our steps in paths of righteousness. Because God’s hand is upon us, He supplies strength in our present weakness. Nobody can break God’s protection from us. Jesus said: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one” (Jn 10:28-30). Worship the Lord!

GOD IS FOREVER FAITHFUL

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13). Because we are born sinners, we all struggle with keeping our faith in God. Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, denied knowing Him. Thomas doubted Jesus. As Christians, we need to always depend on God’s strength, not only during the times of weakness. God is always faithful to Himself, and to His Word. For example, God promised Abraham that he and Sarah will have a son. They were both too old to have children. But God’s promise remained. After waiting 25 years, Sarah, at 90, and Abraham at 100, she delivered their son, Isaac. God is faithful. This is God’s Word: “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob” (Mal 3:6). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). This assurance that God is faithful gives us strength to trust in God’s Word. God cannot be unfaithful. He cannot act contrary to His very essence. “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Nu 23:19). God’s Love endures even when we betray Him! God’s faithfulness remains even when ours fails; His covenant of love keeps the door open for return of the prodigals. Worship the Lord!