12/04/2022 - THE EFFECTS OF POOR SPIRITUAL NUTRITION

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Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also, they make a covenant with the Assyrians and oil is carried to Egypt. Hosea 12:1

Throughout history, many have submitted to the devil and spoiled God’s plan for humanity. We don’t know for sure, but even someone who converts and then turns away from the Gospel – takes many people with him to perdition (Mark 9:42). People do not know that this will bring eternal damage to their souls. Now, its absurd for God’s children to help the devil to overthrow brothers and sisters and in the perdition of the unsaved!

The Lord knows man better than anyone else, for as God, He is omniscient. When speaking of the scandals that would occur in His work, the Savior expressed Himself this way: Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (Luke 17:1). Those who do this do not know how much they will suffer for such harm. But why do some do what they shouldn´t?

The separation of the ten tribes from David’s kingdom was the work of God, because Solomon had sinned. He loved countless women and bowed down to false gods, even though the Lord told the Israelites that these idols should not be worshiped. It was the wickedness of these cults that made the Lord destroy the inhabitants of Canaan and give the land to Jacob´s descendants. Jeroboam was chosen to make the separation and to be the king of what became known as the Northern Kingdom of Israel, or simply Samaria, which was the capital.

As soon as he assumed the throne, fearing that the people would continue to go to Jerusalem to worship God, Jeroboam disdained the Most High. He sold himself to Satan by having two golden calves made, and this offended the Lord: Therefore, the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” (1 Kings 12:28). Mercy!

This monarch instituted priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi (v. 31), provided that the people brought something to offer. These people had nothing to give. Thus, the Israelites followed the east wind described in the book of Hosea – that of the great storms that burns the little plants when they are still tender. This way, the kingdom of Samaria was abandoned by the Lord, and the inhabitants of this region did whatever they wanted. The land was good, fertile; thus, they prospered, but they were in sin.

Each day, the lies and destruction increased. After all, without divine protection, the enemy made them act wickedly, to the point of worshipping Baal, the lord of promiscuity. It was in Samaria that Ahab and his wife Jezebel reigned, causing the people to stray from the path of righteousness. God continued to love the holy people, but all their kings were evil. The fate of the Israelites was sad: they were scattered throughout the world.

In his desperation, because of the kings who invested against other kingdoms, Ahaz sought help from Assyria (2 Chronicles 28:16), a country known for overcoming and taking the land of others. Since Israel’s heart did not belong to God, he also took the oil, the anointing of the Most High, to Egypt. Whoever turns away from the Lord doesn’t feel that they are getting closer and closer to the devil. Be vigilant!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares