Tag Archives: Knowing God

Preparing for 2024: God Goes Before Us

December 26, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

New Year anxieties

In choosing our year-end WordBytes, it was amazing how quickly the teaching for today came to my attention.

This WordBytes was written in 2019, as we entered the world of COVID. At that time, we had no idea that our lives would be forever changed. The world as we knew would never be the same.

This WordBytes was also written to address the anxiety we typically experience as we begin planning for the new year.

Are we ready for 2024?

In our text today, Moses is preparing the Israelites for the changes that lie ahead as they prepare to enter the Promise Land with 2+million people. Just imagine the heightened anxiety and fear of the people. But Moses shares with them a promise they could “hang their hat on”. God will go before them!

It’s been said, “Hindsight is 20/20.” As we look back over the past year with new COVID variants, political division, wars around the world, and more, we might ask this question, “Is God still going before us?”

Assess where we are.

Take a moment and think about how God has intervened on your behalf during this past year. It’s true that we have experienced many hardships this year. However, regardless of them, we are now planning for a “new year”.

Do you want to know why? Because God still (even in the 21^st century) goes before us. Whatever circumstance we may face in 2024, know that God is more than able to sustain you through it. I pray that today’s WordBytes will increase your confidence and trust in the Lord. Have a blessed and happy new year.

God Goes Before Us

Advent/Christmas

Advent Revisited: A Psalm for Advent

December 12, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

A Time to remember

One of the things I love to do during the holiday season is to find a quiet place in the house and reminisce on how my family prepared for Christmas. After Thanksgiving, we would receive the “Sears and Roebuck” Christmas catalog. We called it “the dream book.” Now Christmas displays begin to appear before Halloween.

As believers, we have the liturgical calendar to help us “mark” the different aspects of this most holy season. It begins with Advent and the practice of waiting. It culminates with Christmas, a time of celebrating the arrival of our Savior, Jesus the Christ.

This Advent, I invite you to join us as we reminisce and revisit Advents of the past through our WordBytes devotion. We have chosen three (3) of our most popular Advent WordBytes from past years. We hope they will fill your hearts with hope, peace, joy, and love.

“A PSALM FOR ADVENT”

Knowing God

God’s Large Place

December 6, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Good morning to you!

Have you ever awakened in the morning and instantly felt overwhelmed by the day? I mean, have you been totally immobilized so that you’re unable to get out of bed?

We can be sure that it is Satan’s effort to get us off God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Of course, our flesh also plays a part in this conspiracy. It is in the morning that the battle for our mind and our spirit begins.

This is the time to connect with the Holy Spirit and the truth found in God’s Word. This is the moment we can declare, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psa. 118:24).

This is the day…

Each day begins with our perception of what lies ahead for us. Our calendar and day timer contains our commitments. Our mental and physical state impacts how we receive each new day. We are mentally challenged with fears, anxiety, depression, attention deficit, even our negative talk. We may physically “not feel good”. Seasonal ailments, chronic pain and disease make “jumping out of bed” a real chore. Getting up in the morning is a complex endeavor.

Read, “Monday Morning Cup” , with Lisa Boone-Reddick

But mornings are simply “a period of time which occurs between sunrise and noon”. The bigger issue is our ability to manage the stresses, complexities, and demands that arise during our days (and nights). The challenge is knowing how to successfully navigate the realities of living during these tumultuous and demanding times.

What would happen if we changed our perception of how we operate each day? How much better would our lives be if we acknowledged the real source of release and contentment? King David gives us the answer in Psalm 118.

The view from the other side

Psalm 118 is an excellent source of encouragement when we are perplexed with the struggles we face in our lives. King David probably penned this psalm after he had weathered the battles and challenges to gain full possession of the kingdom to which he had been anointed (1 Sam. 16:13).

In Psalm 118, David acknowledges the struggles but more importantly he witnesses to the presence and favor of God in the midst of those struggles. David begins and ends this psalm (vv. 1, 29) with praise and recognition of how Israel had made it through its most challenging days. David’s psalm was a call for all to remember God’s presence, God’s protection, and God’s provision. It was a time to give thanks for God’s goodness and His mercy.

Oh, give thanks unto the Lord,

for He is good, and

His mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever.

God granted David gracious favor in his distress. Matthew Henry describes this favor as “vouchsafe”.

God heard his prayer (v. 5): “He answered me with enlargements; he did more for me than I was able to ask; he enlarged my heart in prayer and yet gave more largely than I desired.” He answered me, and set me in a large place, where I had room to bestir myself, room to enjoy myself, and room to thrive; and the large place was the more comfortable because he was brought to it out of distress (Ps. 4:1). [1]

Getting to God’s large place

David’s view “from the other side” (of his rise to power) was the result of his personal relationship and experience with God. David remembered God’s faithfulness. He trusted God (vv. 8-9). This strengthened his belief that God would always be there (vv. 6-7; 17-18). David’s experience of God’s large place would prepare him for what lay ahead as he ruled the great nation of Israel.

We too can enter God’s large place through prayer and receiving His engrafted Word (James 1:21). We are invited to be intentional in recognizing and accepting God’s providence in our lives. Whether good or bad, morning or evening, God is always present to see us safely to the other side. God’s large place can be a place of victory, growth, and freedom. Let us declare, like David: Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

[1] Matthew Henry Commentary, Psalm 118.

Spiritual Maturity

Keep Hope Alive: True Hope

November 21, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Hope and faith

In our first teaching on hope, we shared that hope is included as one of the three theological virtues mentioned in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three.” (1 Cor. 13:13, KJV). Our faith becomes a key ingredient with hope and love to offer us peace, guidance, and unwavering hope. It provides us strength and solace in time of uncertainty. This is true not because we are “optimistic”, but we believe that God is truly in control regardless of the circumstances we face.

Paul admonished the young Christian converts of Thessalonica (as he does for us today) to arm themselves with these key virtues that will withstand dangers, toils, and strife they might face in this fallen world. Paul wanted to help believers look not only to their present situation but also to their secure future in eternity.

But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. (1 Thess. 5:8, NLT)

The Apostle Peter shared this same message to God’s elect that had been scattered because of persecution. He encouraged them to persevere in a “lively hope” because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3). He told them: “Gird up the loins of your mind and rest your hope fully upon the GRACE that is revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 1:13). That “revelation” came and still comes through the Holy Spirit.

Hope and the Holy Spirit

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace In believing (as you trust in Him) that you may abound (overflow) in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)

This verse is a benedictory prayer. A benedictory prayer is a short blessing given at the conclusion of public worship. Paul begins by recognizing and acknowledging God as the true source of hope. He then adds that his readers will be filled with joy and peace. Joy relates to the delight of anticipation and seeing one’s hopes fulfilled. Peace results from the assurance that God will fulfill those hopes. As a result, believers overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The achievement of all God’s purposes for his children come from the power given by the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit instills hope in believers by:

1. Reassurance of God’s Love: The Holy Spirit pours God’s love into the hearts of believers, providing a steadfast foundation for hope. This love is unconditional and everlasting, providing security and assurance even in the face of trials and tribulations. (Rom. 5:5)

1. Guiding and Strengthening Faith: The Holy Spirit strengthens believers’ faith, enabling them to trust in God’s promises and plans. This faith is the source of hope, as it allows believers to anticipate God’s goodness and believe in the fulfillment of His promises. (Heb. 11:1)

1. Empowering for Perseverance: The Holy Spirit empowers believers with resilience and perseverance, enabling them to endure challenges and maintain hope amid difficulties. This empowerment allows believers to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward towards God’s purpose. (Gal.5:22-23)

1. Revealing God’s Plan: The Holy Spirit unveils God’s plan and purpose for believers’ lives, providing a clear direction and motivation for hope. This understanding of God’s plan instills hope for the future, as believers see how their present struggles fit into God’s overarching design. (Eph. 1:17-18)

1. Interceding in prayer: The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers in prayer, expressing their deepest yearnings and hopes to God. This intercession ensures that believers hopes are aligned with God’s will and that their prayers are heard and answered. (Rom. 8: 26-27).

The Holy Spirit serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path forward and guiding believers toward the fulfillment of God’s promises. Hope, anchored in the Holy Spirit’s presence, becomes a source of strength, resilience, and unwavering faith, enabling believers to navigate the challenges of life with confidence and anticipation of God’s goodness.

Real Hope

For hope to be real in our life, it is important that we are intentional in claiming that which Christ has obtained for us through His sacrificial death and powerful resurrection. We know that as believers in Christ we live continually in the presence of God who is the great I AM. It is God who provides us with what we need for the challenges we face (Isa. 43:2). Want to keep hope alive? Believe in God!

Spiritual Endurance

Keep Hope Alive: The God of Hope

November 14, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

How do we describe hope?

Do we use common metaphors for hope to encourage others to believe “there’s a path to good” even in bad times? Here are a few we might have used.

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Every cloud has a silver lining.”
“The sun is peeking through the clouds.”
“Hope is an eternal flame.”

But let’s be honest, when we’re at the “end of our rope” and the “bottom of our world has fallen out”, metaphors about hope will not help us “keep hope alive”. We are looking for something that will ease our troubled souls right now! We need real hope.

What have we learned about hope?

In our study thus far, we have described hope as a combination of desire for something AND the expectation of receiving it. And why is hope important? Because it encourages us to persevere and continue moving forward. We all agree that hope is what is needed as we navigate through the challenges of life in the 21^st century.

But hope has ALWAYS been something we humans have needed whether in ancient times or modern days. Man’s ability to survive and thrive has been dependent on hope. The challenge, however, continues to be our ability to identify the BEST SOURCE of HOPE.

Man’s hope

Man’s hope comes from a variety of sources that, when combined and strengthened, provide a foundation for optimism, resilience, and the pursuit of a meaningful and fulfilling life. These include the following which we most commonly use.

Relationships and connections: human connections and strong relationships provide a sense of belonging, support, and love, fostering hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Personal strengths and abilities: recognizing and utilizing one’s strengths and abilities instills confidence and a sense of empowerment, nurturing hope for achieving goals and overcoming challenges.

Meaning and purpose: finding meaning and purpose in life, whether personal interest, family, community, or spiritual beliefs, provides a sense of direction and motivation, fueling hope for our fulfillment and meaningful existence.

Spiritual beliefs and faith: for many, spiritual beliefs and faith in a higher power offers a sense of peace, guidance, and unwavering hope, providing strength and solace in time of uncertainty.[1]

For we who are followers of Christ, that Higher Power is the Most High God (Psa. 7:17).

The God of Hope

The writer of Psalm 42 recounts their hopelessness and frustration as they, like us, handle times of distress and sorrow. In verses 5, 11, and Psalm 43:5, they ask themselves this question.

Why art thou cast down O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? (NKJV)

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? (NLT)

We are “cast down” because the things we have tried to do in our human strength is failing to impact our fears. We are “discouraged and sad” because when we look around there is “no light at the end of the tunnel” nor is the “sun peeking through the clouds.”

The reality we must come to grips with is that we live in a fallen world, where sin will continue to manifest itself in the brokenness and pain we see today. Injustice, wars, corruption, and much more. BUT THERE IS HOPE. True hope is not dependent on our circumstances nor on the world situation. True hope results in “peace that passes all understanding: (Eph. 4:7), “unspeakable joy” (1 Pet. 1:8), and “salvation from all danger” (Psa. 18:2).

The Psalmist concludes that the answer to his state of distress and hopelessness can be found in God.

HOPE thou in God…who is the health of my countenance. (NKJV)

I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again. My Savior and my God. (NLT)

Our hope is built on the faithfulness and dependability of God. We rely on the fidelity of God. God is true, truthful, and trustworthy. His Word and His promises provide the “blessed assurance” we need to not only survive but also thrive in this world. He is our sufficiency (2 Cor. 3:5).

How can we cultivate our hope while living in this fallen world during the 21^st century? We must recognize and acknowledge that God alone is the true source of our hope and salvation (Psa. 62:5-12). Next week, we’ll conclude our study on hope by sharing the role of the Holy Spirit in keeping hope alive.

[1] Google search

Spiritual Endurance

Keep Hope Alive: The Anatomy of Hope

November 7, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

The Anatomy of Hope

What does hope look like? What is its structure, composition, or framework? What is hope made of?

Hope is a combination of desire for something AND the expectation of receiving it. I’m not talking about “Christmas wishful thinking” but hope that encourages us to embrace the belief that better days are possible. Hope motivates us to preserve and continue moving forward.

We chose to create this series on hope because hope is what the world needs most right now. When we began the series in October, there was no war between Israel and Palestine. With regards to mass shootings in America, as of October 31, a total of 621 people have been killed and 2,126 other people have been injured in 520 shootings. Political divisiveness worsens polarizing communities, leaders, and even families. Can hope be kept alive?

What does hope look like?

Is it any wonder that the majority of U.S. adults agree the nations’ future looks bleak?

A majority of adults (62%) disagree with the statement, “our children are going to inherit a better world than we did,” and 63% disagree with the statement, “I feel our country is on the path to being stronger than ever.” More than 3/4 of adults (76%) said that the future of our nation is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 68% said this is the lowest point in our nation’s history that we can remember.

Two in three adults (66%) said the culture’s current political climate is a significant source of stress in their lives. Further, three in five adults quote (60%) said that the current social divisiveness in the nation causes them stress. Slightly more than three in five adults 62% reported that the racial climate in the US is a significant source of stress in their lives.[1]

Are these sources of stress going to go away? Absolutely not! And these stressors are larger than us and out of our control. In this environment, we are expected to manage the challenge of daily living and providing for our families–feeding, clothing, and housing. We search out ways to balance the stresses of life while maintaining healthy relationships, and personal “sanity”. There enters the need to cultivate our hope because when we cease to hope, we jeopardize our future.

Faith or hope?

How does our faith work with hope? Can both occupy the same space? In my reading, I came across a statement that helped me better understand the relationship between the two. “While faith is a function of the intellect, hope is an act of the will.” [2] In other words, what we know about God—His goodness, His greatness, and His promises—should cause us to confidently believe God. Hope moves us forward as we act on our faith in God (Heb. 11:1).

Hope allows us to look beyond what we can see.

Abraham, the Father of Nations, questioned when God would send him an heir, yet Abraham is known to “hope against hope” (Rom. 4:8). In other words, Abraham did not walk by sight but by faith in what God had promised him. His hope was built on the promises of God. Therefore, Abraham persevered.

The Apostle Paul’s faith in Christ (relational) and hope in Christ (motivational) kept him moving forward despite “beatings, in perils, in weariness, and in pain” (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Paul’s hope of glory moved Him through difficult times to eternity where he looked forward to the day when he would receive the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8). Therefore, Paul endured.

Hopelessness and true hope

True hope comes from the One who created hope: God. It comes by trusting God even when circumstances are difficult. I’ve heard many theologians and teachers disparage believers who struggle with hopelessness. While their intentions may be good, such belief discounts the fact that we are mere humans. We need hope, too. It’s important to remember that we are not perfect, simply saved. And that is more than enough.

Psalms captured this thought in several of its passages.

For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again. (Ps. 78:39, NKJV)

For He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone as though we had never been here. (Ps. 104:14-16, NLT)

Unless we acknowledge the frailty and fragility of our flesh, we may fail to understand the need for God’s power and presence in our lives. We must embrace our dependency on God which will solidify our hope. Can hope be kept alive? Absolutely!

Trust produces obedience, which produces hope, which results in joy and peace; and that is the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13). When we walk by faith and trust in God, we can persevere and endure. We have hope.

[1] Stress in America 2022, American Psychological Association.

[2]Wikipedia, Hope

Spiritual Endurance

Keep Hope Alive: The Psychology of Hope

October 31, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Why hope?

From the tenuous bonds that connect us with one another, to the ever-present vulnerability we share as humans in a chaotic world, our lives are forever saturated in the possibility of catastrophe. Bad things— often tragic things like accidents, illness, and untimely death—happen to people every single day. We know this, yet we are tasked with finding ways of moving forward in a world where nothing is guaranteed.[1]

How then do we move forward? We look for hope—the expectation that things will get better. Hope is important because it helps us to cope with stress and anxiety, manage adversity, and improve our well-being and happiness. Hope is not always easy to find, but it is always worth seeking. It is the light that guides us through the darkness, and it gives us the strength to keep going even when things are tough.

The need for hope

In all sectors of our community, people are talking about hope. They are acutely aware of the strain and impact that 21^st century living has created. I need not list them, however, those searching for hope are often the casualties of this tumultuous, demanding, “always on” society. They result in depression, anxiety, and mental decline, in general.

These pressures not only exert stress on the mental wellness of our society, in general, but also upon our physical health. Observe the increasing incidents of high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease. The mind and the body are fragile. They were not built for the continual trauma and stress that have now become “business as usual” in our world today.

The U.S. population has experienced an intense range of stressors over the past few years, as the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and political divisiveness have dominated news cycles and social media. A new survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA, tells a story of uncertainty and dissolution.

The report shows a battered American psyche, facing a barrage of external stressors that are mostly out of personal control. The survey found a majority of adults are disheartened by government and political divisiveness, daunted by historic inflation levels, and dismayed by widespread violence.[2]

We can only hope!

Hope is both a feeling and a motivation. A powerful force for good in our lives. It can help us cope with difficult times and to persevere in the face of challenges. It has been described as a shield, a path, and a powerful protector. This is especially true when we face life-threatening illnesses or insurmountable challenges in our lives.

Hope is a complex emotion that is critical for the times in which we find ourselves. As we embrace the belief that better days are possible, we are motivated to continue moving forward. It is exactly what is needed to persevere during these difficult times. With hope, we can find ways to oppose the dread of life’s dangers. Hope is critical to our future, both individually and collectively, as a society. Therein lies the reason we must continue to hope.

This week, we have focused on our human need for hope. Next week, we will begin to explore hope as our faith response to the challenges of 21^st century living. As believers, our hope, is built on a sure foundation based on the fidelity and faithfulness of God.

[1] “Hope: Why it matters”, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, July 16, 2021

[2] “Stress in America 2022: Concerned for the Future, Beste by Inflation”, American Psychological Association

Victorious Living

Throwback Wednesday: Truth: The Divine Perspective

October 11, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

For the past few weeks WordBytes has focused on the process of “returning”. Return by definition means to come or go back to a place or person or thing. As a part of speech, it is an action word that demands a personal response to accomplish a desired outcome.

In our series we suggested that to live victoriously, it is critical that we as believers not forget key spiritual virtues. If we have “drifted”, it begins by returning to our first love, God. Other areas include fellowship, faithfulness, joy, and repentance. Returning is an indication and an admission, that we, at one time, have been in the “right place”.

With that in mind, for Throwback Wednesday we’d like to “return to basics”; and that basic involves truth. More specifically, God’s Truth. We offer for your consideration, “Truth: The Divine Perspective.”

Truth: The Divine Perspective

Spiritual Discipline

Return to Joy

September 26, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

What is Joy?

Joy is defined as gladness of heart. It is listed among the top five things[1] people desperately want in life yet “never seem to be able to get”. Joy’s allusiveness, in many cases, is the result of our tendency to define joy as external to ourselves. We believe it is a person, place, or thing. Once we have “it”, we’ll have joy. Wrong!

Joy under Attack

As we survey the world we live it, gladness of heart is under attack. Our attempts to navigate 21^st century living seem more daunting and challenging with each new day. Financial worries served as a significant source of stress ranking higher than three other causes of concern: work, family responsibilities, and health concerns.

Work, family, and health concerns have exploded. So how can we find joy? The Apostle Paul shares the secret of not only how to find joy but also how to return to it in spite of the pressures we might face.

Source of Joy

In Philippians 4:4, Paul exhorts the Church at Philippi to holy joy and delight in God.

Delight yourselves in the Lord, yes, find your joy in him at all times. (Phillips Translation)

God has furnished us with joy even in the worst of circumstances. Nehemiah in the midst of hostility and threats, said that “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Neh. 8:10).

David acknowledged that “in God’s presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). Jesus instructed His Disciples “to live in The Vine”—in Jesus’ holy presence (John 15:5-11). By living in the Vine, Jesus’ joy would remain “in them and be full.” These same offers of joy are extended to you and I who live in the 21^st century. Jesus is the source of our joy.

Returning to Joy

It is God’s desire that we return to joy regardless of life’s circumstances or difficulties. Jesus describes these as “tribulations” (John 16:33). Tribulations and trials are “natural outcomes” we suffer as a result of living in a fallen world.

We experience the effects of fallenness every day. They include death, disease, and difficulties. However, in Christ and as God’s children, we have been provided with God’s Presence (The Holy Spirit), God’s blessings (Eph. 1:3-17), and God’s inexhaustible grace to sustain us (Phil. 1:6).

Strengthen our Joy

Returning to joy strengthens our resolve and helps us to continue the purpose God has set before us. Such strength can only come from Eternal God Who helps us through the worst of circumstances. When we come into the presence of the Lord, we connect with His great and eternal power. God’s power exceeds anything we can do in our own strength (Phil. 4:13).

We are invited to return to the joy that comes from serving God who is sovereign and who has overcome the world (Ps. 119:89-91).

[1] Top 5 include: Happiness, Money, Freedom, Peace, Joy

Spiritual Discipline

Return to Faithfulness

September 19, 2023 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

The basics of backsliding.

As a child, I remember our worship services especially the ones with sermons that warned our congregation of the dangers of “backsliding”. After the minister’s fiery discourse, a few members would approach the “welcoming” altar, many times weeping and repentant.

The word backslide, in a Christian context, implies movement away from Christ rather than toward Him. A backslider is someone who is going the wrong way, spiritually. He is regressing rather than progressing. The backslider had at one time demonstrated a commitment to Christ or maintained a certain standard of behavior, but he has since reverted to old ways. Backsliding in Hebrew mean “turning away, turning back, or apostasy”. It infers “defection”—turning away for the wisdom of God (Prov. 1:32) and away from Jehovah—the Covenant Keeping God (Jer. 3:6, 8, 11, 12).

Return to the wisdom of God.

We don’t hear much about backsliding these days. Perhaps our focus has shifted to the “lost” versus those who “appear to be” in the ark of safety. But backsliders are as important to God as the unsaved in that backsliding is an indication of the lack of one’s faithfulness to Him. Faithfulness to God was an important part of the prophets’ proclamations and is central in appreciating Hosea 11.

The Old Testament prophet’s function was to not only herald the warnings of God but to also remind God’s people, Israel, to remain faithful to Him. Through the prophets, God announced His intentions to enforce the covenant which was always in accordance with categories of blessings and curses already contained in the Law. Even today, we need to take heed to the prophetic Word of God. We must remain faithful to Him and if we have “backslidden”, repent, and return to faithfully follow God.

A Prophet’s view of backsliding

In Hosea 11, God speaks to the prophet as one would speak to a close friend and confidant. God shares with Hosea His history of unbridled favor and goodness to Israel. The opening verses (vv. 1-3) read like a doting parent, who has poured all their affection and attention upon their child only to receive, in return, opposition and defiance. God’s “gentle cords and bands of love” (v. 3) only resulted in Israel’s ingratitude and unfaithfulness.

For Israel’s immorality and worship of idols, God’s punishment of Israel would be swift and severe. Israel’s unfaithfulness would earn God’s judgment and doom. God’s compassion toward Israel would be the only reason God’s mercy and grace would be extended (Hosea 12:6). It would, however, call for their faithfulness to God.

Why do we backslide?

God attributes Israel’s behavior to its “bentness to backsliding.” This “bentness” is like Paul’s description of “the flesh”—that unredeemed part of man that still exists within believers (Rom. 7: 17-19). Israel was deaf and disobedient to God’s voice, spoken by Moses and His other prophets. They rebelled and became more resolute in their disobedience; adding to Israel’s injurious behavior, was their failure to exalt God (Hos. 11:7).

The positive ending to what began as a tragic narrative is that despite Israel’s faithlessness, God was faithful. God honored His covenant and extended mercy to Israel with the promise to ultimately restore His covenant people to Himself (vv. 10-11).

Are we guilty of 21st century backsliding?

How similar is Israel’s behavior to that which we find in our nation, in our homes, and in our individual faith walk. That same “bentness to sin” that tempted Israel still tempts us today to unfaithful behavior. Though delivered from the bondage of sin, we may find ourselves still pursuing those things that feed our fleshly desires and wants (1 John 2:15-17). Backsliding may manifest itself in several ways, e.g., dropping out of church, losing fervor for the Lord, walking away from a ministry or a family, or falling back into old habits.

It is a great encouragement to our hope in God’s mercies to remember that “God is God”, and not man. He is the Holy One. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and receives us even when we are guilty of backsliding. God is faithful to His covenant people. Even in our faithlessness, God remains faithful to us (2 Tim. 2:13).