Be cautious with discernment

Hosea 11:1–12:14, Acts 5:1–42, Job 16:10–22

People tell me that I have discernment, but God is telling me to be careful that I do not rely on human opinion. I need to seek Him so that my judgment of what people are thinking and doing is how He sees it.

The Bible has many examples. For instance, in the Old Testament God’s people were making sacrifices, going to their place of worship, and giving at least lip service to the laws of God. However, He looks at the heart and saw what others could not see . . .

“My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all. How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.” (Hosea 11:7–9)

These verses say that even though they called on Him, God would not answer for their hearts had actually turned from Him. He was going to deal with their sin, but determined not to destroy them. His compassion is greater than His wrath.

Imagine two ways a parent could discipline a child. One is in anger because the child’s behavior is annoying her. The other is with concern that the child becomes a better person, so the discipline is about the child’s need, not the parent’s peace of mind. The challenge is being able to discern which motivation is at work. This tells me to be careful about outward appearances. There is more going on in the heart than I can see.

In the story of Job, this broken and troubled man could not figure out why God had allowed the difficulties in his life. He was certain he did not deserve God’s wrath, but why did God allow his suffering? All Job could say was: “God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target; his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground. He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior. I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust. My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness, although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.” (Job 16:11–17)

This tells me that I cannot know the mind of God. Job was a righteous man whom God praised. He allowed Satan to test him, to prove that the faith God gives is sufficient even if life falls apart. God never did tell Job what was going on, but Job’s faith held. For me, trusting the Lord takes priority over trying to discern what He is doing.

In the NT reading, “a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

When Ananias heard these words, he fell down dead and great fear came upon all who heard of it. (Acts 5:1–5) Not only that, his wife came in about three hours later, not knowing what had happened.

Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.”

She repeated her husband’s lie, and Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” (Acts 5:7–9)

Verse 11 says that “great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.” That is no surprise, yet there is more to this than a warning to be truthful. The Holy Spirit knows the human heart. People might be able to fool others, even themselves, but God is not deceived. He revealed the truth to Peter so he could confront this couple.

This tells me that if I think I know what people are up to, or what God is doing, I’d better check that out with God. Discernment is a valuable gift, but things are not always what they seem.

What does free speech mean?

Hosea 8:1–10:15, Acts 4:1–37, Job 16:1–9

Two women are in the news. One is protesting abortion and has been put in jail. The other is refusing to grant a marriage license to a same-sex pair who want to get married. Both women are being charged with criminal acts, even though they are only affirming what they believe and that they have the right to say it.

It seems to me that there is a huge disconnect in public policy. The general public can say all kinds of things against God and against Christians, but Christians cannot say anything against anything.

However, I’ve noticed that God never has constraints with ‘politically correct’ regulations. He tells people exactly what He thinks of them, even His own people . . .
“Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law. To me they cry, ‘My God, we — Israel — know you.’ (But) Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.” (Hosea 8:1–3)

Hosea later added: “They shall not remain in the land of the Lord, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria . . . . My God will reject them because they have not listened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations . . . . They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.” (Hosea 9:3, 17; 10:4)

Then Hosea tells them what to do about the mess they are in; “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” (Hosea 10:12) 

Out of this I get the clear message that not only God can speak His mind, but He allows His prophets to speak their minds, particularly against those who speak mere words and empty oaths. It is no surprise that the listeners back then didn’t like what they heard from God.

As for Job (probably one of the first Bible books written), when his ‘friends’ wrongly accused him, God not only let Job speak his mind against them, but He later proclaimed that Job was right, even when he rebuked these friends with sarcastic words like this: “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all. Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you. I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.” (Job 16:1–5) I’m sure his ‘friends’ were not happy to hear this either!

The disciples of Christ also spoke their minds about the Lord. They got a mixed reaction: “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” (Acts 4:1–4)

Later, the religious leaders who did not like what they said put them on the hot seat by asking, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, told them this: “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:7–12)

The religious leaders were angry at this, so they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18–20)

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them . . . . look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness . . . .” (Acts 4:23-24, 29-31, 34–35) 

Since day one, Christian people have suffered when speaking as God directs. This has not changed. Throughout history, people have resisted His Word and the Spirit-led words of His people. However, regardless of persecution, threats, and even being put in jail, His people are blessed for saying what He wants them to say. Why do we persist? Because we know God’s will is true, He will take care of us no matter what, and history will culminate in the eternal reign of Jesus Christ. 

God’s Incredible Plan

Hosea 6:1–7:16, Acts 2:42–3:26, Job 15:21–35, Revelation 12:10-11

The Bible message can be summed up in four words: creation, fall, redemption, consummation. God created people in His image; those first people fell into sin; God is at work to redeem sinners; and in the end all will be brought to a satisfactory and eternal conclusion. While the last stage will occupy the most ‘time,’ the second one takes the most pages.

God goes to extreme measures to deal with sin so sinners can be redeemed. Two verses point to some parts of His redemption plan and to Jesus Christ: “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” (Hosea 6:1–2)

Many think that to be right before God, we must do good deeds, or at least do the best we can, but that is not the covenant God makes. He says He does the saving and our response should be according to the undeserved blessing He bestows: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.” (Hosea 6:6–7)

Offering our sacrifices to God is futile. Instead, He made a sacrifice for me. I cannot earn or deserve His blessing, only respond to what He has done.

Job knew that, but his ‘friends’ were not so astute. In speaking about a wicked person, one of them said, “He will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the earth; he will not depart from darkness; the flame will dry up his shoots, and by the breath of his mouth he will depart. Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment. It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.” (Job 15:29–32)

This sounds right, but in saying it in the way he did and in the timing of it, this ‘friend’ was accusing Job of being a wicked person and this is why he was having problems and suffering losses. This was not true.

God’s people might suffer under His hand, but His reasons are not to punish but to heal. My condemnation and punishment was put on Christ. It is through Him that I am blessed, not judged and condemned.

This is illustrated by God’s grace actions in the NT. Peter and John spoke to a lame beggar and he was healed. Peter explained it by pointing to Jesus: “And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:16) The man did nothing to earn this blessing. God bestowed it and he responded by leaping for joy!

Peter quoted Moses (who also pointed to Jesus). He knew that something besides a list of commands was needed to save people from their sin. He said, “The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.”

Peter continued, “And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:22–26)

As I read this, the Lord reminded me of an important principle. I have a tender conscience and tend to look on the dark side of myself far too much. When I read of the sins of those in the Bible, I identify with them, even with the worst of them. However, God has blessed me with faith, forgiveness, and new life. After confessing any actual sin, I should be thinking about His grace instead of how rotten I can be.

My spiritual enemy knows my temperament. The NT identifies him as my accuser, but also speaks of his fate. “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:10–11)

My negativity is important regarding the seriousness of sin, but the positive is far more important — the blood of Christ and faith in Him have given me forgiveness and eternal life. I need to reject all habits that let the devil push me into dwelling on sin and instead rejoice in what Christ has done. He created me in His image and redeems me in His grace. My eternity is secure because of His incredible plan.

Making sound judgments

Hosea 3:1–5:15, Acts 2:1–41, Job 15:10–20

On occasion someone is a position of responsibility is accused of immorality or a crime then later proven innocent. Even though the charges were proven false, that person’s life is ruined or at least changed forever. How important to make certain of what is said before charging anyone else with anything.

Perhaps God is the only one who is perfectly able to make sound judgments. For instance, His people went through all the right motions and looked righteous, but He knew their hearts. Sixteen times in two pages, God condemns His people with words like prostitute, adultery, and whoredom. Hosea says of them, “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the Lord.” (Hosea 5:4)

What does it mean to ‘know’ God? Some of the Hebrew words translated “to know” mean the intimacy of marital relationships, but this verse uses a word that is more like acquaintance, or to become familiar with something through experience. This doesn’t mean that these people had no knowledge of God. They knew He existed and knew His requirements, but their relationship was not one of personal experience that comes through faith or trusting in Him.

No one can ‘know’ God without that personal relationship of relying on Him. These were relying on everything else, including idols, or “a piece of wood,” or their “walking staff” (Hosea 4:12), and even going “after filth,” a word that can also be translated as “following human precepts” (Hosea 5:12).

Hosea said that what they were doing was preventing their return to God. The spirit of evil was inside them and kept them from having a rich relationship with Him. These chapters are sad, depressing, and offer little hope, until the last verse. There God says, “I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.” (Hosea 5:15)

God had not written them off. He offered a way out of their condemnation, a way that is consistent throughout the Bible: confess sin and earnestly seek God in humble repentance.

Job’s situation was different. His misery was not because he had walked away from God. Instead, God allowed Satan to test his faith. Yet his ‘friends’ did not understand this. In their minds, the only reason that a righteous and God-fearing man would suffer is that he had done something evil, something that required confession and repentance. One of them said to Job, “The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.” (Job 15:20) Later, Job would call them “miserable comforters” because he knew, as God also proclaimed, that their words were not right.

The most interesting thing about the words of these miserable comforters is that they do have a ring of truth in them. Wicked people sometimes do writhe in pain, while the people of God often enjoy comfort and a carefree life. However, these words of comfort were not based on the reality of Job’s situation.

A few weeks ago, I shared a problem with a friend and endured a long description of what she thought was the answer to my problem. Her words were true, but they were way off-base as far as addressing my problem. What she said did not help, but in fact actually hurt me. She may have meant well, as Job’s friends likely meant well but she made me realized the importance of being slow to give advice.

When counseling others, I must make sure that whatever I say is what God wants me to say. The spirit within me needs to be pure, yielded to the Spirit of God and considering my feeble understanding. If I rely on my own judgment, I will miss the mark.

Having God’s Spirit in control usually means some surprising results. Acts 2 tells of a few of them, such as these new Christians being “all together in one place.” That alone would change Christendom today!

The reason for their unity was that they were filled with the Spirit. They spoke in tongues but this is not unique as some cult members also speak in tongues. But the effects were amazing; all foreigners gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost heard the gospel in their own language!

The Spirit also gave great boldness to Peter and the others as they connected the Old Testament Scriptures with their present experience. They shared Jesus Christ and people were convicted of sin (also a work of the Holy Spirit) and invited to repent. Many believed and were baptized. They were devoted to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.

“And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42–47)

The idolaters in Hosea’s time had no such power. Job’s ‘friends’ were also powerless to comfort him. The disciples were fearful and useless until the power of the Holy Spirit filled them. My attitude and words have no power at all unless I’m totally trusting God and relying completely on His Spirit.

Listen and respond accordingly

Hosea 1:1–2:23, Acts 1:1–26, Job 15:1–9, Revelation 2:2-5

Writers and speakers know that illustrations have great power to put a truth into the hearts and minds of their readers and audience. Sometimes I remember the stories for hours, days, even years afterwards.

God started this. In one situation, He instructed a prophet to marry a whore who was unfaithful to her husband so that the people of Israel would have a vivid understanding of their unfaithfulness to God.

In the beginning of his book, Hosea wrote what the Lord said to him, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” (Hosea 1:2)

Hosea married a woman named Gomer and had three children by her. God told him to name two of them with words that meant, “She has not received mercy” and “Not my people.”

The first couple of chapters dramatize this way God used to show His love for His people and how He viewed their rebellion against Him. They were like a woman who forsakes her husband for another.

God’s passion and righteous jealousy deeply affect me. His severe love for His people and severe hatred for their sin moved Him to command His prophet do something that elsewhere He calls sinful and disgusting. This was so His people would realize the seriousness of their sin.

As I read it, I thought of the times I’ve relied on other people and other things when I should have been totally devoted to the Lord. I put myself in this story of God’s prophet and this immoral woman and it makes my stomach heave and my heart feel wretched. I get it. I understand the depth of God’s outrage and feelings of betrayal every time I drift away from my “first love” for Jesus Christ.

God refers to this in Revelation 2:2-5. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:2–5)

In these verses, God knows that His people were trying to live for Jesus. He knows my desire too, but he also knows how easily I can move from that first passion for Jesus into a reliance on other things, even on myself, rather than total dependence on Him. When He charges me with idolatry, I know exactly what He is talking about and exactly how He hates this sin.

Job did not experience this in the same way. His ‘friends’ charged him with sin but they missed the target. For example, Eliphaz accuses Job, “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good? But you are doing away with the fear of God and hindering meditation before God. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you.” (Job 15:2–6)

God later said that this was not right, and Job knew it was not right when he heard it. He knew that he was falsely accused because he was sensitive to the Holy Spirit. When the accusations hit, he knew he should not take them to heart; they were not right.

I need to be that sensitive. If I am accused or feel conviction and pay attention, I will also know if that conviction is from God. If it is not, then I can ignore it. Hosea listened. Job listened. I must also listen, and carefully.

The first Christians listened too. After the resurrection, Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the baptism of Holy Spirit. They did. They asked Him if the kingdom would now be restored to Israel and he said this was not for them to know. Instead, they were to “be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And they listened and did as He said.

After that, Jesus ascended to heaven and they were told He would return the same way as He went up. They listened, believed Him, and lived accordingly. (Acts 1:4–11)

From today’s reading, I’m hearing God say, “You know how unloved you feel when people do not believe what you say. Remember this: if you love Me and have faith in me, then live like that. Listen to Me as a person who really does love and believe Me.”

Today’s application is simple: Consider Hosea and Job. Consider those early Christians and their love for Jesus. Consider how they listened — then go and do likewise.