O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee

"O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away" (Hos. 6:4). I have to wonder just exactly how God feels when he makes a statement like this. It's not a declaration of joy, and the scriptures do affirm to us that God does get grieved (Gen. 6:6; Eph. 4:30). I'm sure that I know a little bit about how he feels, partly because I have his Spirit dwelling in me, and partly because I have experienced many like things up close and personal through the years. That is to say that I have seen so much of people quickly forgetting what the Lord has done, and what he has shown that he requires of us. When we are fast to forget what God has made known to us, we will invariably cease to do what he is pleased with. That is what he was speaking of here in Hosea. It really does grieve God to see his people make an effort to do what makes him happy, and then fade that effort speedily into the sunset of our thinking. The children of Israel had this problem in spades after being delivered from Egypt by God's great love and power toward them: "Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea" (Psm. 106:7). It may be that we forget what the Lord has done for us in the past, like Israel did; and our memory loss causes us to fail to trust God in the present. Or maybe we learn a harsh lesson of chastening because of pride and foolishness, then quickly forget that lesson and merge right back into our ways that led to our downfall. God simply can find no pleasure in short lived commitment to believing and following what he has shown us or done for us, or forsaking what he has shown us that he is displeased with. Personally I feel the same exact way. It's really exasperating to show people longsuffering, immovable love, forgiveness, and solidity of sound guidance over a long period of time; and they still just refuse to 'get it.' Never mind how many times God has manifested and confirmed that he is with you in all of these things for their good. And never mind that you have exemplified unwavering steadfastness in the nature and mind of God toward them for their good.

Forget the fact that you've made a living cleaning up other people's messes, and basically dealing with them as if you are the one that made the messes. Never mind either that you've gone as far as being accused of actually being the one who caused the messes, and have taken that patiently as well. And never mind that you've routinely watched people turn away from you for no good or rational reason at all, and you've still continued to reach out to them in love, and desire their fellowship. Yeah, in all honesty I do believe I know just a little of how God feels when he makes statements like the one in our text verse. Just a little. Is it possible to have compassion on God for the things he has experienced in his dealings with man? Yeah, I'm certain that it is. When we're young in Christ we often have this great zeal for walking with God and identifying with Jesus. That is a beautiful and privileged desire indeed. Thank you for that Jesus. When we're older in Christ, and we have sought out and maintained that zeal over many years, and through many grueling trials and circumstances; we find out that we have indeed asked and sought for a hard thing (II Kin. 2:9,10). Nonetheless it is the best of things, because as the great apostle Paul told us, "IF we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" (II Tim. 2:12). This would be the same apostle Paul who also said, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (II Cor. 12:15). No self pity there my friend. Just the grieved heart of one who knew the reality of walking hand in hand with Jesus, and who followed his zeal for God's house from youth to old age. And for what purpose? "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Philp. 3:10,11). Sometimes things just get to the point that you have to tell it like it is, even if it means telling on yourself. Paul did some of that too. Read his writings and you will find it. God bless.