Hosea 4-6

Daily Devotional from Hosea 4--

Verse 14

I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

Israel often faced judgement from God due to disobedience and idolatry. They were punished with famine, warfare and exile. God’s desire was not revenge but that his people would repent and be restored to right relationship.

As we see in our verse above, God also can also judge disobedience by withholding punishment. Just as the problems of Job were not a punishment for sin in his life, so a problem-free life that some seem to have is not necessarily an indication of God’s approval of, or blessing on, their lives.

Appearances are deceiving. The grass is not always greener on the other side. King David wondered why evil people seem to prosper, until God showed him their end. (Ps. 73:1-17)

If continued, the ultimate outcome of living without understanding God and His desire for holy relationship with His created children is ruin.

Don’t wait! Respond to His calling now!

Rick Bolesta