Hosea 11-14
Kindled Compassion's
Hosea 11:8, How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboim? My heart is turned over within Me, All my compassions are kindled. NASB
Admah and Zeboim were cities in a valley along with Sodom and Gomorrah that were destroyed by God in Genesis 19. Deuteronomy 29 describes the area as, land of brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive…
God destroyed these four cities because of sin, but in Genesis 14 we read that there were actually five cities. Bela or Zoar was the fifth city in the area, however, Zoar was not destroyed. Why not? When the angels came to Sodom to rescue Lot and his family from the coming destruction the Lord was bringing to the cities in which Lot lived, they brought him outside the city and told him to escape to the mountains. (Genesis 19:16&17) But Lot argued with the angels. He was afraid and wanted to escape to a town close by Sodom. That town was Zoar. As soon as Lot got to Zoar, God rained down brimstone and fire from heaven destroying Sodom, Gomorrah, and all the cities in the valley, except Zoar.
Peter called Lot a righteous man. (2 Peter 2:7) I confess I never thought of Lot as righteous but a closer look at the scripture shows me I was wrong. God was willing to spare a city simply because Lot had taken up residence there. Lot had a righteous influence in a godless place. (Genesis 19:1-9). When God sent the angels to bring Lot out of Sodom he no longer had influence on the area. God brought judgment on the area and destroyed all the cities except Zoar. (Genesis 19:29) That gives me hope. Lot couldn’t save Zoar but his presence there saved the city. God’s compassions toward Lot were kindled so God spared Zoar.
It seems to many of us today that the spirit of the lawless one is on a rampage and that the end times are close at hand. However, Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 that the lawless one is being restrained. We know what is restraining him. I believe that the lawless one is restrained by the Holy Spirit indwelling in His Church. Like Lot, one day the Church will be taken out of the world. There will be a trumpet blast and the Church will be “caught up” to heaven and will be with our Lord Jesus. We call this event the rapture. I also believe that when the Church is raptured the Holy Spirit will no longer restrain the lawless one because He will leave with the Church.
The Church has not been raptured yet so our job is not done. I hear a lot of “God bless America” and “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” I know that many people long for the days when America was influenced by the Judeo Christian ethic and many want America to return to what we once thought we had. All of this is well and good but let us, for sure, be praying for revival in the Church today, and let us be sure we are living a revival. 2 Chronicles 7:14 places this responsibility clearly on the people of God. This is not a “pray it one time” or “pray for a short season,” but let us pray and pray until the revival comes. It is no accident that the great revivals in history were born out of prayer. Let us pray and not lose heart. God’s compassions are kindled. May God move in the hearts of the people in His Church and they will be the blessing He uses to not only bless America but also the world.
Here is a good place to start.
Take words with you and return to the Lord.
Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity,
And receive us graciously,
That we may present the fruit of our lips."
Hosea 14:2 NASB
Until revival comes, keep praying!
Pastor Dave