The legality depends on the will of the mother. If she does not want the baby, she can have it destroyed. We watched an episode of Inspector Linley last night in which the unwanted baby was allowed to live but was sold to someone who wanted it. Later, the mother of that child arranged another baby to be sold so she could profit, but that mother wanted the child so she murdered the first woman. Huh?
Human ‘I wants’ make life messy. In the OT, this phrase is often seen: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) In our world, the prophets could say, “In these days there is not much faith or obedience to God. Everyone does whatever they want to do.” Huh?
“Not much faith” grants that the God who created us is still at work. There still is some faith, but daily news does not broadcast how thousands put their faith in Jesus Christ as they repent of their sin and are forgiven and have new life and a life-changing relationship with Him. Those who meet Jesus are changed but their family members are upset and try to kill them. Thousands flee for their lives and many others die for their faith. Huh?
God is still at work even as His work seldom hits headlines, and if it does, humans may get the credit, or mock it, or misinterpret it. Today’s verse for the day comes from a passage that describes the kind of God that is being neglected and rejected:
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:1–9)Reading it slowly, it is a surprise. The people of God had not only sinned but were guilty of apostasy, yet God says, “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.” Huh?
This is the God who longs to restore those who turned away. He welcomes those willing to confess their guilt and how they had taken credit for what God had done, but vow to not sin like that any longer.
For those who have not slid away and remain as His faithful servants, this is a passage of hope. God does not change. He can heal the mess in our world, open blind eyes and turn away His anger. My role? Listen and be faithful to what He says. Tell others. Challenge darkness with prayers of full faith. My Redeemer is not dead — He lives and He is still able and willing to change lives.
PRAY: Jesus, just as You called Israel out of bondage in Egypt, and You called Your faithless people to come to You for healing, my prayers are for those near and far — that You will call and continue to call people from darkness and extreme, God-playing thinking to repentance and faith in You… for that will produce in them blessings that they will never otherwise realize or understand apart from Your great grace.
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