The Effects of Sin

Hosea 4:16-17, “For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.”
What a strange thing for a prophet of God to say, Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. This could be some of the saddest words in the Bible. If you go back and read all of Hosea you will see Israel had an idol problem. It appears the people of Ephraim had become so idolatrous that God said let them along and stay away from them. Some might say this was only God’s instruction to Hosea not to have any dealings with this group of people. “Let them alone; do not make friends with them; do not accept counsel from them; do not join yourself to them.” That sounds a lot like what Jesus said about the Jewish leaders who consistently refused to hear and understand God’s revelations to them. “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14). Why is it that many will follow a tradition and not listen to what God has to say? Could it be that they are so glued to their selfish ambitions and prejudices that they simply reject God’s authority for their lives.
It is clear here that god is telling his prophet not to have any more dealings with this group of people. He is saying the He will no longer give his preacher any messages for these people. It appears that God finally has had enough or their idolatry that He will not speak to them anymore. They have continued in rebellion and worship of idols and have refused to listen to the warnings God determines to leave them to their misery.
How terrifying could this be? Because of sin God no longer wants to talk to these folks. Is this Nation heading for the same fate? Are we becoming so hardened in sin that God will no longer speak to us? If we could look at what the Nation of Israel was doing and then compare that to what America is doing and you will see some very frightening similarities.
Do not trust your own strength or wisdom or goodness so much that you make friends with the devil and expect to stay holy. Don’t expect to play with fire and not get burned. Yes God is merciful and long suffering but there is a time coming when He will say enough and summon the arch angel and signal an end to all sin and corruption. Do not presume God’s mercy and put of repentance—the Holy Ghost Himself says, “Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7-8.
The day of grace is still with us but it could end at any moment when Jesus comes to claim his own. Will you be among them? Or will you seek a place to hide hoping He won’t find you? There will be no place to hide. Amos 4:12 “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”