“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5 NASB.

It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV.

It helps when reading our chapter, Hosea 12, and all of Scripture, to remember that Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). And we are the same as our ancestors and future generations. Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found Him at Bethel and talked with Him there – the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is His name! But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. v. 1-6. How different the ancestors that Israel descended from: The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.” v. 7-8. And God’s response? “I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.” Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field. Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet He cared for him. But Ephraim has aroused His bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt. v. 9-14. These verses can inspire fear until we remember Creator God is the same yesterday, today, and forever…By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

How do I apply this to me? How do you apply this to you? This morning in prayer I felt just like Jacob wrestling…and I’m so tired. I can’t change anyone. But I keep trying! And He showed me my struggle isn’t with others or with Him. It’s with my fears and worries and my need to control everything myself. And I’m trying to let go and be in that place where I trust God’s will for me and for everyone – and that He doesn’t need my help…my ongoing struggle! I need to trust God. Watching Part 3 of The Last Supper (The Chosen), I couldn’t help but wonder how the Pharisees couldn’t see that the correction Jesus was giving them was echoed in the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures they themselves studied. God corrects! It’s needed! But we need to trust God for that correction only He can give with the love and wisdom that is needed. The foundation is laid…Creator God laid it. Maintain love and justice and wait for your God always! Trust His ways are good and that He knows better than we do exactly what is needed for each of us. I love walking with God. I love listening to His truth in Scripture, in sermons, in talking with others just like me – imperfect, flawed, headstrong, yet seeing through His eyes how much we are loved. He will always bring us back to His truth when we open our hearts to Him…but…we must return to our God!