Memorise: The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringth low, and
lifeth up.
1st Samuel 2:7
Please Read: Hosea 5:3-9,
3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O
Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
4 They
will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms
is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.
5 And
the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and
Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them.
6 They
shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but
they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.
7 They
have dealt treacherously against the Lord: for
they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their
portions.
8 Blow
ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after
thee, O Benjamin.
9 Ephraim
shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made
known that which shall surely be.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 3:6-4:31, Acts 13:48-14:18
MESSAGE!!!
Let’s look at the
life of Ephraim.
A man who was indeed a beneficiary of divine blessings.
·
Jacob pronounced blessings
to him (Genesis 48:20).
·
David spoke about his
greatness (Psalm 108:8) BUT
·
Ephraim was disregarded
(Jeremiah 7:15), joined himself to idols and God left him alone (Hosea 4:17).
·
Idolatry; (when you give
more honour, reverence and time to anything than you give to God). This can be
in the form of your studies, career, hobbies and achievements etc.
·
Idolatry is one of the
archenemies of divine blessings. The Almighty God warned His people against
idolatry in Exodus 20:3 saying:
“Thou
shalt have no other gods before me.”
Action Point
Father, today I pull down every strong altar I have erected to
compete with you in my life, study, career in Jesus’ Name.