Are we as a people too hard to govern? If something bad happens we cry for our government to fix it for us.
Houston used to be a city that prided itself on taking care of our own problems.
But now I see so many blue plastic tarps over houses left over from Ike over two years ago. I see so many lawyer ads trying to talk people into suing others over this act of God. What happened to fixing the problem up and moving on? A vast majority of these people could find, save, or borrow the money to fix their roofs. It would be inconvenient yes. But they would be much better off if they did. Instead at least some of them are trying to lay off responsibility on the government or an insurance company. In the long run they are just hurting themselves.
Are we getting to be a people that is too hard to govern. People need to take responsibility, even if it not fair.
When I read Hosea 4 it reminds me of this. I know it seems a bit of a stretch. I have this subject on my mind right now.
Hosea was speaking to a people rich in things. Yet they were not satisfied. They had forgotten and forsaken God, the author of all good gifts. They had forgotten to be grateful. They had gotten greedy and licentious. They are willing to harm others for another shekel.
Their leaders are no different. Both their political and religious leaders are just like them.
God calls them back. They need to turn back. And our country does too.
Hosea 5:4 (and Romans 1:21-32) speaks of a people so full of sin and selfishness that they are not able to turn back to God.
Hosea 5:4 Their works will not let them come back to their God, for a false spirit is in them and they have no knowledge of the Lord.
The commentator speaks of a “heart of darkness” coming over their hearts. It implies that people are so lost in darkness they can never find their way back. He uses the title of Joseph Conrad’s book. The heart of darkness gets so strong there is no turning back. Conrad's book seem to suggest people who go this far are better off dead.
But I don’t think that this is God's position. Some people repent from a very dark, awful place. It is not impossible. And God is still willing to take us back. He is always on our side. Hosea speaks of God’s willingness. Hosea himself was sent to make it clear. God still cares.