Thornbushes

Thornbushes

Scripture:- Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’ Hosea 2:6-7

“In that day I will respond,” declares the LORD— “I will respond to the skies, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, and they will respond to Jezreel. I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’
I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” Hosea 2:21-23

Observation: With the image of Hosea and his adulterous wife, God continues to liken Israel to such a woman, betraying her faithful God to run after the idols of the nations, even giving up her fine things for them. In spite of this, the Lord promises that one day, He will bring Israel back to Him again, and she will once again enjoy His choice blessing and precious fellowship.

The first passage speaks of God sending thornbushes to block Israel so that she cannot continue her adulterous ways. For us too, when we have turned away from the Lord or become too engrossed in the things of the world, sometimes He brings trouble or a problem to remind us that we need Him. It is said that one of the worst things that can happen is for God to let us have our own way as described in Romans 1 where the Lord “gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts”. Whenever we face an obstacle or hindrance, we need to remember that it is time to stop and turn to the Lord humbly. He may be stopping us from a course of action for our own good, just like the Lord used a speaking donkey to stop Balaam from going to his death.

The second passage speaks of the Lord’s promise to restore the skies and the earth, to being blessings in food, wine and oil. Israel will be planted securely in the land and enjoy close fellowship with the Lord as His people. This promise is for us also, and though we may endure suffering for a little while now, we must always look forward to the new earth that the Lord will bring – an abundant time of pleasant provision, blessing and fellowship with our Lord.

Application:- Remember that if we face any trouble or hardship, it is a call for us to remember the Lord and to humbly seek Him for help. Thornbushes can be a time of learning for us as we realize more and more how much we need to depend on God. In all things, look forward to the restoration of the earth in the future when Jesus comes again and makes everything new. Even now, the Lord gives us His provision, His blessing and His fellowship. Let us treasure it as we wait for the fullness of His promise to come.

Prayer: Lord we thank You and praise You for all that You have given us. Indeed you have blessed us with more than what we need. Let Your presence always be with us and Your provision and blessing follow us. We will ever trust in You. In the day of trouble, we will call to You, for You O Lord will answer us. Praise You, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen