18/04/2022 - THE MERCHANT

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The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.  Hosea 12:7

In verse 1 of Hosea chapter 12, God declares that Ephraim feeds on wind and pursues the east wind. The ten tribes that separated from the house of David formed a kingdom known by various names: Samaria, the Northern Kingdom, Ephraim, or Israel. Now, the Omniscient One says that this kingdom was a merchant, for it did business, had the dishonest scale in its hand, and loved defraud. The Lord sees all things!

Before I go any further, I want to draw your attention to the fact that the Almighty sees situations as they are. Therefore, we need to examine ourselves and see if we have also been engaging in practices that don´t please God, and this includes hidden thoughts and desires. Nothing escapes the divine eye. If we give in and submit to what is bad, the Father is unable to operate in us. We cannot fall into transgression (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Both the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) felt short, because they didn’t understand that through them the Lord could save the world. If they had been servants and prospered greatly, respecting all people and proclaiming the divine will, the other nations would have seen that serving God was a good thing. We run the risk of acting the same way, if we indulge in usury, greed and all kinds of iniquity. We must never forget that we are the holy Church of Jesus! (Ephesians 4:17-24).

We must never get involved in sin, but this has happened to many saved people who only see profit and the good life and get carried away by temptations. Remember that our Kingdom is not of this world and cannot have the purpose of kingdoms that don´t know the Lord. Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men (Matthew 5:13).

Our priority has to be the Kingdom of God – and not our own. In fact, we have been taught this in the so-called Our Father prayer: Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). He also taught us to seek His Kingdom, saying: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Whoever follows this command realizes that all things are added to them. Believe and live!

Why use the dishonest scale, if the Father gives us all things? Most of the time, even the most consecrated person only sees what the devil shows – but with Jesus, that was not the case. He never lacked anything. Everything was supplied to Him: For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel (John 5:20). Isn’t this our failure: not doing the works that Jesus did? Remember that it is necessary to grow to the stature of Christ.

Ephraim loved to defraud because it gave him tremendous profit. Now, why afflict the people around them if God would supply their needs? This kingdom preferred to obtain the revenues that the Most High did not give them, rather than to be under the divine anointing and show the people that the Lord also loved them. Now, the best way to live is under God’s guidance!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares