Don’t give up on Epraim (4)

Hosea 11

King James Version

1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

Pray:

I believe in the judgement of God. I believe in the wrath of God. I believe that all of those who die without Jesus Christ will be cast into the lake of fire. I believe that God punishes his children.

We read in Hebrews 12:6

Hebrews 12:6-11

King James Version

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

But long before God punishes us, he shows us mercy and compassion over and over.

And here in the book of Hosea we hear the laments of God. As he says of the tribe of Ephraim, how shall I give thee up.

We certainly know what this is like don’t we?

How many of us can say that we have a son or a grandson that we refuse to give up on? How many of us have a daughter or a granddaughter that we refuse to give up on?

In police stations all across America there is a parent, a mother or a grandparent posting bail for a kid who they refuse to give up on.

Maybe some of you have someone in your life like this. Someone you have prayed for time and time again. Someone you have helped out and bailed out and given everything you have to get that loved one back on solid footing.

You see. We are made in Gods image. And it is perfectly Christ like for us to be this way.

To have that family member or friend who just refuses to give up the drinking. The grandkid or kid who stumbles in drunk during the holidays and drinks until they pass out.

To have that family member or friend who uses meth or crack or marijuana so often that they are willing to break into people’s houses and risk their very lives just to get one more fix of their drug of choice.

This is how God is when he is dealing with his children: One of the sweetest things in the bible is the tenderness of God. 1 John 2:1 we read:

2 My little children,

Which in the Greek means my little born ones.

No matter how old we get. To God we will always be his children.

And that is how we are with our children. Praying for them to get off drugs or alcohol. Praying for them to get their families into church.

We read in Psalm 103:13

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

In Romans 8:15 we are told to call God our Father:

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

We are not to call any man father. But only God.

And in Hosea 11 we read about Gods love for Ephraim. Saying that they are wicked and adulteress, yet he cannot give up on them.

Ephraim had gone into sin and God said I cannot give them up.

In Hosea 4:17 we read:

17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

You would think that God was through with Ephraim. But he was not. In chapter 11 he changes his mind. Asking the question. How shall I give thee up o Ephraim. In other words. I don’t want to give up on you because my love for you is so great.

Being a minister, you hear stories like this over and over again. Into your office comes the mom, the dad or the grandparents. Telling you how they sat beside the bed of that sick child night after night. Telling stories of what a great kid he or she was. And how the lifestyle of sin they have fallen into is “just not Johnny or Billy or Sussie.”

Preacher if you had known my Johnny before his addiction to alcohol or drugs. Preacher if you had known my Billy before his addiction pornography. Preacher if you had just known my Sussie before her addiction to sexual immorality and dance clubs.

And just like our heavenly Father we say to anyone who will listen. I just cannot give up on Ephraim. I just cannot give up on Billy or Johnny or Sussie.

Listen to me carefully church. One of the biggest regrets I’ve heard over the years with parents who are struggling with children is this. I wish I had brought Johnny or Billy or little Susie to church more often.

You see if you never go to church. That is the example you are giving to your kids. And it is likely that they will never go to church.

If you are off and on with church. It is likely that they will be off and on with church.

If you only go on Easter and Christmas. It is likely they will only go on Easter and Christmas. If at all.

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Now some of you may be asking the question. Well, preacher what is so important about church?

I’m glad you asked. There will come a time in the life of little Billy, little Johnny and little Susie when they will begin to look beyond the authority of mom and dad. A time when they will be influenced by other people. A time when they will face the peer pressure of experimenting with drugs and alcohol and sexual promiscuity.

And they will have long learned that they can hide these things from mom and dad. But have they been taught that they cannot hide from God?

If they were raised in a good bible believing church, they will understand this one basic truth:

Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You mean if I snort or smoke crack or whatever they do with that. Then their teeth will fall out? You mean if they drink alcohol all the time that their liver will fail? You mean if they smoke marijuana all the time that they are at risk of mental illness? To say nothing of the risk of lung cancer and heart disease from puffing on that marijuana cigarette.

Yes. There is a price to pay for sin.

You mean if I sleep around, I could get aids or herpes or gonorrhea? Yes. The wages of sin is death.

God intended for physical relations between a man and woman to be an act of marriage and love. Not a physical act like animals with no self-respect.

And by raising your children in church you are exposing them to the truth. And that truth is that there are consequences for sin and rebellion.

And that is what we see from God here in Hosea. A loving God who can see that his people have fallen into sin. Who at one point wants to give up on them. But finally says. I cannot give up. Or how shall I give thee up O Ephraim.

Did you know that when a person is dying. One of the last things to go is usually the hearing. Time and time again there have been people laying in the hospital bed near death. Lifeless. And as they were working on keeping them alive, they would talk and say don’t give up. Don’t give up. And when these people are fully aware again, they can say. I heard every word you said. I just couldn’t respond.

And Dr.’s tell us that when a person is dying the last thing to go is the hearing.

A long time after you can’t talk, you can hear. A long time after you can’t move, you can hear. Even for some time after you can no longer breath they say you can hear.

Why do you think God made it like this?

Romans 10:17

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Perhaps God wants to give us every chance to hear the gospel. He just refuses to give up on us.

The importance of hearing the word of God. I want you to hear when you can’t talk. I want you to hear when you can’t move. God is saying I just can’t give up on you.

In Amos God said to his people. I gave you a famine of the hearing of my word and yet you wouldn’t come back. I gave you goodness and yet you wouldn’t come back. Then he said I disciplined you and still you would not come back. And then I gave you war. And yet you still would not return to me. And after doing everything he could to get his people’s attention finally he said. Prepare to meet God.

How longsuffering is our loving, merciful God. And how stiff-necked and rebellious are we as his children.

How merciful is our God you ask? Let me read to you from the 136 Psalm:

136 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Oh how loving and merciful and patient is our God.

I wonder this morning. How many of us can testify to Gods patience and mercy in dealing with us.

How many parents can recall holding that innocent little child in their arms. That son or that daughter. With no idea what the future would be like. With no idea the amount of heartache that child would put them through. To one day utter the phrase. I just cannot give up on my child. This is how much God loves us.

How shall I give thee up?

When that child took its first step. The first time that child said mommy or daddy. Much like the first time we called upon the Lord Jesus Christ. And God was overjoyed with us. And like the doting parent God refuses to give up on us.

They say that the moment our children learn to walk they begin walking away from us. It is up to you to teach them to walk towards God. And we do that by getting them in church and being an example to them.

God knew and loved Jeremiah when he was in the womb. Folks we serve such a wonderful God.

Remember when Abraham came to God. And asked him to spare the city of Sodom? God said sure Abraham. Compassion is something I understand. And told Abraham if you can find 50 righteous men, I will spare Sodom.

You see God doesn’t want to send people to hell. God doesn’t want to allow you to suffer from your sin. God made a way out by providing the ultimate sacrifice and by giving you the true apple of his eye. And that is the Lord Jesus Christ. God gave us the best gift he had to give.

But we know Abraham couldn’t find 50 righteous men. So, he came to God again. And he negotiated with him once more. Dear God, would you spare Sodom if I can find 40.

And of course, we get our ability to be loving and forgiving from God. And Abraham is demonstrating to us that he is a child of God.

And God says Yes. If you can find 40 righteous men, I will spare Sodom.

You see. God did not want to destroy Sodom any more than Abraham wanted it destroyed.

God doesn’t delight in punishment any more than we do. Our heavenly father much like our earthly father can honestly say. This is going to hurt me more than it is going to hurt you. And any parent can testify how painful it is to punish your child. But correction comes from a place of love. If you don’t slap that hand when it reaches for the hot stove that hand will get burned. And the slap is nothing compared to the agony of the hot stove. It is an act of love to teach a child.

God has done everything he can to keep us out of hell.

And so, Abraham said what if I can find 30. I couldn’t find 40. Will you spare Sodom: And of course, God said. Yes.

Then we know that Abraham couldn’t find 30. So, he asked God again. What if I can find 20 righteous men?

And I believe that God wanted Abraham to find them too. But Abraham couldn’t find 20.

Then Abraham what if I can find 10?

Look at the longsuffering nature of God. Abraham went from 50 to 10. And every single time God showed us his mercy and love.

But listen to me please. You wayward and backslidden generation. Do not think to tempt God by continuing in sin. Do not think that you can constantly take advantage of Gods kindness. Do not fool yourself into thinking that payday isn’t coming. Because it is.

Free will is a wonderful thing. And you have the free will to live in sin and reject God for your entire life if you want. But understand me. The price for your sin is death. And it will ultimately be eternal separation from a loving God if you choose to reject God and continue in sin.

Pay day always comes. Not because God wants to punish you. But because judgement is certain. The Buddhists call it Karma. God calls it you reap what you sow. You spend your entire life sowing the seeds of rebellion, sexual immorality, drugs and alcohol and self-centeredness. And it WILL come home to you.

And this is what God was saying to Ephraim. I don’t want to give up on you.

I believe we are all living in Gods nursery. And like little children in a nursery there are dangers all around. The light socket, the hot stove, crawling off the edge of the stairs. And as we grow up other dangers present themselves. Peer pressure. Drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, selfishness, pride.

And God uses all of those things to raise his children. We are here to grow spiritually. To use this good book to understand the mind of God. To embrace and love our heavenly father.

Matthew 13:9-16

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

It is up to us how close we grow to our heavenly father. It is up to us to how much we understand what our father in heaven is trying to teach us about this world and eternity.

God has given us the freedom to make our own choices. And because he loves us will not give up on us. Just as a parent refuses to give up on a wayward child.

Listen to me. God doesn’t want to give up on you this morning. You are his child.

All of you watching on Facebook this morning. Some of you might be saying. Well, I like the teaching of the bible. But I’m not into organized religion.

Good. Neither are we. We are into the organized family of God. And we come together to lift up one another. To encourage one another and to love one another. The church is Gods ordained support system for his children. And if you want to raise your children to walk towards God as they begin to walk away from you. Then you need to get them into a good loving church.

Ephraim like the modern church and modern Christians. Have turned into idolatry. The idolatry of worshiping false Israel. The idolatry of making idols out of Hollywood actors and even calling them stars. The idolatry of making politicians like Trump and Biden saviors. The idolatry of making sports ball players their gods as they cheer and worship at the altar of the false gods created by sports. Waiting in line for the autograph of someone whose only contribution to the world is putting a ball into a hole or catching another kind of ball or throwing another kind of ball.

I used to love the Razorbacks. I was a fanatic for watching the sports games. Now I am ashamed of myself for supporting such a thing. Why?

Folks there are kids out there working 2 and 3 jobs to afford a college education. Yet someone who can’t even read or write gets it for free. And even that isn’t enough for them. They want millions of dollars to entertain you. There was a time that playing college sports meant you were in college trying to better yourself through academics. Now you are just a mercenary looking for nothing but money.

There was a time in college sports when the student athlete was from the state and representing the state and the uniform of the team with pride. But now they just represent whatever team is willing to pay them the most money. And they do not care at all about getting an education or earning a degree.

Your heroes are zero’s and you have fallen into idolatry. And God says. I’m not giving up on my people. Folks don’t teach your children to look up to sports ball players or politicians or Hollywood actors. Teach them to look up to Jesus and the wonderful people in the bible.

Our God is so merciful. Our God is so longsuffering. But we need to repent from our wickedness and return to God and return to Gods house. Ephraim says God. Repent from serving those idols. I love you. I can’t give up on you.

Pray: