“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”
Hosea 5:4
Their deeds do not permit them
to return to their God.
For the spirit of whoredom is within them,
and they know not the Lord.
The pride of Israel testifies to his face;
Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in his guilt;
Judah also shall stumble with them.
With their flocks and herds they shall go
to seek the Lord,
but they will not find him;
he has withdrawn from them.
They have dealt faithlessly with the Lord;
Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.
Jeremiah 5:24
Let us fear the Lord our God,
who gives the rain in its season,
the autumn rain and the spring rain,
and keeps for us
the weeks appointed for the harvest.’
Your iniquities have turned these away,
and your sins have kept good from you.
How many times does God have to warn us of consequences? “Your sins have kept good from you” – “Your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” – “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” – “Their deeds do not permit them to return to God”. We have freedom to choose each day. For the most part we choose what time we get up, what we eat, what we wear, what we drink, how we will speak to one another, what we read, what we will spend time on, …… AND whether or not we will fear God and humbly serve Him for His honor and glory from sunrise to sunset. How many times do we read about how in times of peace the people fell away from God and entire generations did not know Him or what He had done or said and the consequences of it. Either the “lack of” or seeking for “knowledge and understanding” of God, within a generation, depends on each of us. First within our families and then within friends, neighbors, towns, states, country and to all parts of the world. We are told to go out and make disciples in all of these places. How do we make disciples of the God when all day long we choose to ignore knowledge and understanding of Him – When we choose to spend our time not serving or living for Him – When we do not commit to being used by Him – When we choose to not to read and obey His word – When we choose to not listen for His voice speaking to our heart. Joshua said “Choose this day whom you will serve – as for me and my family we will serve the Lord. David said “Search my heart oh God and see if there is any offensive way within me and lead me in paths that glorify you”