Title When facing a crisis (Ho 14:1~3)
Contents
Everyone faces crises due to unexpected events on their journey through life. There are few people, believers and unbelievers, who do not face a crisis in the harsh world.
But what matters is how to deal with that crisis. Depending on how you respond, the crisis may be minimized, or you may end up in a predicament from which you cannot get out of the crisis. On the other hand, crises often turn into opportunities. Therefore, how to respond to a crisis is more important.
So, today, we are going to find a way in the Bible about how to deal with a dark crisis.
If you look at the history of Israel in the Old Testament, you can see the crises that come to nations and individuals in any era. The crisis does not come by chance; it all means something. A crisis comes in God's providence, which controls the rise and fall of a nation and individuals.
There is a deep will of God that we do not know that our country is facing an economic and political crisis right now. Most national crises come because of the sins of the leaders and the people. Personal crises are often caused by personal faults and sins. Of course, there are times when you use a crisis to strengthen your faith and give you greater blessings.
In any case, a crisis is scary no matter what kind of crisis it comes from. You have to deal with it well. So, how to deal with it?
1. We must get rid of injustice and return to Jehovah.
In most cases, the cause of crises experienced by countries or individuals is injustice. So, in today's text, Hosea 14, the way to solve a crisis is to get rid of injustice and return to the Lord.
In the days of Hosea, the nation of Israel was corrupted by religious and moral corruption, down to its kings and priests. Forgetting God's grace and help, ignoring the law, serving idols lewdly, committing injustice to their neighbors, and walking the path of corruption and corruption.
That is why God is going to take up a powerful country called Assyria and attack them. When faced with such a crisis, the prophet Hosea proclaims that the only way to survive the crisis is to get rid of injustice and return to the Lord.
They repented and did not return, and they were completely destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. But look at the people of Nineveh. At that time, sin was rampant, and God planned to completely destroy the nation, but when the people, from kings to commoners, even beasts, fasted, put on sackcloth, sat on the ashes, repented of their sins and returned to the Lord, God He saved the country and the people.
See also Jonah. Personally, and not in an ordinary crisis. It didn't end with the storm, but it became meat rice. What could be a greater crisis than that? Still, he did not give up and repented of injustice in the belly of the meat. returned to Jehovah. Then God rescued him from the belly of the meat.
The only way to be saved from a crisis is to forsake injustice, repent, and return to the Lord.
2. We must rely on and seek only Jehovah.
See Hosea 14:3. It tells us not to rely on the salvation of Assyria, nor to call things made with our own hands a god. This saying does not depend on the background of the world, money, the power of great powers, or idols, but only on the Almighty God.
When we face a crisis, rather than relying on God, we seek the power and background of the world and try to solve it in a human way. More and more often it gets twisted and falls into a labyrinth. King Hezekiah relied only on God, but when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, appeared and was in danger, he bowed down and promised to pay tribute, saying, “I have sinned”. give it to
Then he knew how to get out of the crisis and depended on him, but he gradually fell into a labyrinth. But later, after hearing the words of the prophet Isaiah, he went to the temple and prayed that he would repent and rely only on the Lord, and God saved him from the crisis. That's right. In times of crisis, we must rely on God alone.
In 2 Kings 3:11, Jehoshaphat is looking for a prophet to ask the Lord. In this story, the northern kingdom of Israel, the southern kingdom of Judah, and Edom form an alliance and encamp in the wilderness of Edom to fight Moab.
However, a big problem arises and they are in danger. After seven days, there was no water for the animals and the soldiers to drink. The land was dry and even the water source was cut off. There is no sign of rain. In such a barren area, water is life. Without water, many soldiers and horses would starve to death. But the Allied Forces were in such a crisis.
Then Jehoshaphat finds a prophet of the Lord to inquire of the Lord. “Isn’t there any prophet of the LORD here who can inquire of the LORD?” This means, where is the servant to pray to the LORD? He found Elijah, the servant of God, and prayed to God, so he overcame the crisis well and achieved a great victory.
To rely on God means to entrust our problems and pray. Some people, while living a religious life, do not give up their pride, self-will, and stubbornness when a crisis comes. Even when faced with difficulties, they struggle alone, do not pray to the Lord, or ask the Lord's servant to pray. There is. That's why I see a lot of people who can't overcome the crisis and regret it after they've gone bankrupt.
See James 5:13-14. “Has any of you suffered? Is any of you sick? He will call upon the elders of the church, and they shall pray for them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” I did. It is a message to consult and pray with the servant of the Lord when you are in crisis.
Anyone in crisis? Rely on God alone. Consult your servant and pray to God. I believe that a crisis can be an opportunity.
3. Don't be discouraged.
I am not alone in the crisis. A crisis like this comes to everyone at least once or twice. The problem is that when such a crisis comes, if you do not lose heart, do not give up, and overcome it with faith, you will be in trouble.
Look in the bible. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David all had their course of crisis. As a result of overcoming those things well, I was able to win and succeed. Therefore, do not be intimidated by small crises and do not become discouraged, disappointed or give up. Look at King Hezekiah. Even after being sentenced to death, did you not become discouraged and did not give up and cling to God and pray?
Have any of you ever faced a crisis? Listen today. Let's get rid of injustice and return to the Lord, rely on Him and pray. Then never get discouraged or give up. I believe that the crisis will turn into a blessing.