>> The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word
Bert Harper hosea. chapter 10. Listen to these two parts of two verses. In verse two, their heart is divided. And then down in verse five, its glory has departed. these are bad references to the nation of Israel. That is Hosea is prophesying will be, just destroyed, done away with. And so that's what we're studying here in chapter 10. But we'll keep on going. And each time we see it, we say, yes, there's judgment, but intermingled in all of that, there's hope. And we want to share that hope with you today. Well, this is Bert Harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland. And we are going through the Book of Hosea. And Alex, we're going to. You're going to sound a little bit different today than you usually do. Tell everybody why.
Alex McFarland Well, Bert, good evening. It's great to be with you and good to be with everybody in the Book of Hosea. I'm not in North Carolina today. I'm in Orlando, Florida. And what an honor. You, remember our colleague Dan Steiner of PreBorn. Well, PreBorn is having a national conference down here. There are hundreds and hundreds of, people from all over America and internationally that lead pregnancy care centers. And they will, provide a sonogram for an expectant mother. And There's a nearly 100% chance an expectant mother will keep her, her baby and not abort. And I have the great privilege along with like, my friend Lee Strobel. Do you remember Lee Strobel that wrote the Case for Christ?
Bert Harper I certainly do, yes.
Alex McFarland Well, we're teaching evangelism because Dan Steiner and his wonderful staff, they want the, pregnancy care pro life centers to know how to lead people to Christ. And it's just a joy. And there are a lot. I've already met people from all over America that they come up and they say how they love exploring the Word and they love afr. But it's my joy. I'm teaching evangelism and some apologetics in there answering common objections. But y' all keep us in prayer because, this pre, Born Pro Life convention is like a revival meeting.
Bert Harper I can imagine. Preborn, is one of our ministry partners and we love them. Thank God for Dan Steiner. And what God's doing with him. And, so, Alex, we'll be praying that you. It will just be a grand time equipping, but also rejoicing in what God is doing and saving lives of the babies, but also mug many of those mothers coming to Jesus Christ as Savior.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Bert Harper So let me. Yeah, go ahead.
Alex McFarland And I want to say this. Just, a little bit ago, we heard from probably the predominant pro life leader from Australia. a young lady gave a speech that was just, standing, ovation kind of speech. And, you know, the recent elections are on everybody's mind. And, you know, states like Virginia modified their state constitution to allow zero protection for the unborn. But nevertheless, let me say this group of people, myself included, we are more committed than ever to the sanctity of human life and to protecting the unborn and evangelizing the mothers and fathers. And I want to tell you, the zeal for the Lord and for America is undiminished here.
Bert Harper Amen. And we want to share that, and we want to give hope, because that hope is in Christ. It's not in government. Regardless of what we might think or hope, it is in Christ and Christ alone. Well, let's get started in chapter 10. And again, we, go through this. Let me give some highlights, Alex. And you can go back and pick up the different things. But I already did the one that I thought was important. Their heart is divided. Now, this is verse 2. They are held guilty. That's the whole idea. They're guilty. Then verse 4. Their judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field. They have sown so much, unfaithfulness, immorality, idolatry. It's springing up. And then notice it says, because the inhabitants of Samaria feel. Because of the. The calf of Beth Haven. Sumerian. Beth Haven. They had put a calf there that they worshiped. Does that sound familiar? Sounds like Egypt and what they brought up out of Egypt. And then in verse 5, its glory has departed from it. they had every chance. Everything but their heart is divided. They'd say, we want your blessing, but we want to worship baal. Now, that's how divided they were and how crooked they're thinking was. Alex.
Alex McFarland Mm m. Well, do you remember the word Ichabod? That's in First Samuel. Yeah. And a, variation of it is here in verse five. The glory has departed. verse six. The idol also shall be carried to Assyria as a present for King Jareb. Ephraim shall receive not glory, but shame. And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. sin always brings eventual shame, doesn't it? you know Proverbs 14:34. Righteousness exalts a nation. Sin is a reproach, a, bringing down a shaming. And that shame is on any nation that sins, the United States included.
Bert Harper It is so true. And the judgment continues. The hills fall on us. listen, it's going to be utter destruction. You read all the things in the places, it says. But verse 11 brings us up into a word picture. And what follows here is what we referred to yesterday, and we're going to go back over it. Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh grain. But I harnessed her fair neck. I will make Ephraim pull a plow. Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break its his clods. Now again, this heifer's been trained for something else. This. This heifer was meant for something better. But no, the judgment has come. And so the judgment is coming. Verse 12 has difficulty, but promise. So for yourselves righteousness, reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord till he comes and reigns. Righteousness on you. Now, Alex, they had. I'm, going to use this word. They had played the harlot. Now, why would I say that? Hosea's right in this. His wife Gomer had played the harlot. He went and redeemed her back. Her loyalty should have been so, so geared to her husband, Hosea. And so the example here. How many times has God brought the nation of Israel back, trying to help them, trying to strengthen them, but they would not. And he even sews it in, shows us here. So for yourselves, righteousness. And I'm going to say the opposite, not unrighteousness. You catch it, what I'm saying?
Alex McFarland Yeah. Well, verse 12 is a fascinating verse. And, let's camp out here a little bit. sow for yourselves righteousness. So that's like sowing seed. you know, don't plant sin and reap a harvest of judgment. Sow for yourselves righteousness. Reap in mercy. Okay, then, the, phrase that we talked about yesterday, about plowing up and tilling the soil that had laid dormant for a while. Break up your fallow ground. And of course, the obvious, illustration here is to cultivate our heart, you know, by the way, I know what it is to rotate crops, Bert, on our little 35 acre farm, of course, we would rent about 100 acres all around us and grow corn. but my dad, he was very intelligent about farming. He had a degree from NC State in agribusiness. But we would rotate crops and there would be five and six and seven acre parcels that we would not use for two or three years. And he. I remember my dad would tell me that, you know, you leave it dormant, let the nitrogen build up again. And then he would. And I was just a kid, it'd be years where I ever knew this phrase. He would say, we're going to break up the fallow ground. Here's the thing, though. When the field is laid dormant for a few years, the top layer is kind of hard and you gotta break through that. And Bert, there's more I want to say about verse 12. But isn't that the way with the human heart, though? Let's, say people, it's been a few years since they've been in church. Well, they're going to have to reestablish that habit of going to church. Or you've neglected the Bible for a while. Break up that fallow ground and pierce through that layer of hardness on your heart and get back tender to the Lord. is not a great. I mean, there's so much in that line that lends itself to our walk, isn't it?
Bert Harper It really is. And be you raised on a farm, me raised on a farm. You see that and you're talking about leaving it out for one year, two years. The longer it is left out without tilling, the harder and deeper the hardness of the, that becomes. And you have to have a big plow. You can't just use a, what we called a hara. just spike sticking down and dragging it. That wouldn't do it. you couldn't just use a flat plow. You had to use a big plow. You had to. You had to go. Yeah, you had to go deep in order to do that. So if you've been away from God, listen, God's plowing of your heart goes deep. And it's going to go down through one layer, two layers, three layers. And, But it is worth it, for it is time to seek the Lord. Now is the time. Today's day of salvation, not tomorrow. Don't put it off to a convenient season. Do it now. Is that right, Alex?
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. This is so good. All right. In my translation, the word righteousness appears two times. Does it in yours, Burke?
Bert Harper Yes. Till he comes and reigns righteousness on us. The last part, yes.
Alex McFarland But in reality, they're slightly different words in the Hebrew. Now listen to this, folks. So for yourselves, righteousness, and it ends till he comes and reigns righteousness on you. Now, the first rendering, what we are to sow is, godliness, truth, obedience. In other words, the right things of following the Lord. Then what is he going to come and reign? And by the way, there's a word picture here because it rain like the precipitation from heaven, is what makes those seeds that we've sown grow. but it says, he reigns. Righteousness on you, blessing and vindication. In other words, the sin is forgiven, the backsliding has been turned around. Heaven is raining down vindication, forgiveness, restoration. The earth is bringing forth a harvest of righteousness. Bert, from top to bottom, there's blessing in being right with God.
Bert Harper Amen. Amen. Verse 13 follows up on that. And, and notice it says, you have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies because you trusted in your own way in the multitude of your mighty men. There's a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. You can justify your vote all day long. If a person votes for some, party that says, yes, it's great to kill babies. We want that. And they celebrate that. Oh, yes. We, we don't want you to keep your creation identity. We don't, we don't care anything about that. And you know, Alex, that's. That is sowing wickedness. That is, in. Ultimately, you're going to reap iniquity. And that's the whole idea, because you've trusted in your own way. Let me just suggest those who are listening, not trying to browbeat you anything, but don't trust in your own way. It may seem right. Go to the Word of God. Trust the word of God. Obey the Word of God. And I want to tell you he'll see you through. Well, we're going to be back and we'll finish chapter 10. Going to chapter 11 here on the. Hello, I'm, Bert Harper. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. That's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.net give that's afr.net give
Dr. Jessica Peck holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. Months and years and years to come. With all creation and sing praise to the King of Kings. And you are My everything and I will adore you.
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word Bird. And Alex here. And we are in Hosea, chapter 10. If you have your Bible, look at verse 15, Alex. In the last three lines, the whole verse says, thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. In a morning, the king of Israel shall be cut off utterly. And again, why would they specify the king? Leadership has its privileges, but, boy, does it have responsibility. Doesn't it, Alex?
Alex McFarland Well, it really does. It really does. I mean, the language is, very vivid here. you know, plowed wickedness reaped iniquity, the fruit of lies trusted in their own ways. Verse 14 and 15. Therefore, tumult. And that's. That's like chaos and anarchy shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be plundered, as Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle. It's a reference to a previous fight that went on. A mother dashed in pieces upon her children. Well, that's hard to think about. Thus it should be done to you because of your great wickedness. At dawn, the king of Israel should be cut off utterly. And, Bert, it was never God's intent that Israel have a king. well, as you know, after the death of Solomon, there was a civil war and the divided kingdom, period that lasted nearly a thousand years. But do you remember Israel said to God, we want to be like other nations. And God basically said to them, yes, but you are not like other nations. I think about the church, a lot of people want to be like the world, but we are not to be like the world. We are different. our message is different. we're not just, platitudes and, you know, positive thinking. We're preaching the risen Christ through whom and through whom alone is salvation. the Bible is not merely an inspiring book. It's inspired, given by God. So I think about, you know, the desire for a king, the desire to be like the rest of the nations of the world. That was never God's intent for Israel. It's not God's intent for the church today.
Bert Harper It is not. And we come to chapter 11, and it's kind of a break from judgment to remembering. Remember what I've done for you. God does that quite often in so many places. Remembering all that God has done for us, all that God had done for that nation, all that God has done for America. We need to remember that and not destroy what got us here. But let me read verse chapter 11, verses one through four at one reading. And we can go back and, and make sure everybody's on. On trail with what, Hosea was saying from the Lord. When Israel was a child, I loved him. And out of Egypt I called my son. So they called them. So they went from them. They sacrificed to Baals and burned incense to carved images. Verse 3. I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms. But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love. And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. And I stooped and fed them. Now again, Hosea is remembering how they became a nation in Egypt because Joseph had gone before them. And then when the famine hit, he brought the family. The family came down there. And when they. After they'd stayed there years and decades long, they had become a nation. And God would lead them out of Egypt, out of bondage where they had been enslaved. And it says, I call them by, my son, I've called them. But when they got there, into the land of promise, Baal's went out for a while. Verse 3. I taught Ephraim to walk. Taking them by their arms, he led them through the wilderness. He established their kingdom. So, Alex, here, God is reminding them all that he had done for them. And this is, this is beautiful language. I, taught them to walk, you know, took them by their arms. You can just. Okay, I can just see it myself with our three sons, Jan and myself, Jan holding the hand of Nathan or Matthew or Micah, and me holding them on the other, and us walking with him down a road, down the driveway. It's a beautiful picture. And that's what God says, I've held you by my hands and bands of love. But they rejected that and went the way of baal, didn't they?
Alex McFarland They did. You know, back in, verse 11 of chapter 10, Ephraim was compared to a heifer and harnessed her fair neck. you know, the neck or the, Well, the neck is kind of a fragile part of the human body. I mean, if you are wounded in your neck, it can be fatal. And the neck of Ephraim was never meant to have a yoke around it or a rope, but that's what it was, a harnessed neck in verse 11 of chapter 10. Now over here in chapter 11, verse 4, I, led them along with gentle cords, not, not with the ropes of servitude, but gentle cords, bands of love I was to them as One who takes the yoke from off their neck. See, serving the Lord alleviates burden and brings liberty. going in the way of sin. That's not freedom. It winds up in bondage. But there's just quite a contrast from the continuing love of God versus the, burden of sin and its fruits. Here, this is Hebrew writing, at its most beautiful and, frankly, most vivid, isn't it, Bert?
Bert Harper It really is. And you get your agrarian culture. They were. And so, you know, looking at this and knowing. Because you're to take the scriptures in the historical stance, and so you got to go back to that and look at that and understand that. And it's a beautiful thing that God had done for them. And what did they do? They took the blessing. They wasted it. They worshiped idols. And, no, you've got. You remember that thing. You got to stay with the stuff. you dance with one that brought you to the dance, okay? And they had not. They had left. They'd gone a different way. Now, verse five changes the subject again. No more remembering, but going back to some things of judgment. He shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyrian shall be his king. Because here's the line. They refused to repent. Now, listen to these words. And the sword shall slash its cities, devour his districts and consume them. Because of their counsels, my people are bent on backsliding from me. Though they call to the most High, none at all exalt him. Now, ah, if you don't mind, I wait to get to verse eight, because this is beautiful about God's heart, but here it tells. Those words are. Are very graphic. Devour, consume. that was the life they were living, wasn't it?
Alex McFarland Yeah, it really was. The Bible says the way of the transgressor is hard. though they call to the most High, none at all exalts him. You know, just because somebody's thinking about God or talking about God doesn't mean that they're worshipping God or obeying God. They're not exalting him. And he goes on, basically, verse eight. How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over Israel? Bert? It almost sounds like when a parent says, what am I going to do with you?
Bert Harper Yeah, that does say that. The last part of verse eight talks about his heart. My heart churns within me. My sympathy is stirred.
Alex McFarland Yeah,
Bert Harper I didn't want to. I didn't want it to go this far, you know?
Alex McFarland Yeah. and how many parents have said, you know, as they're punishing their child. I don't want to have to punish you. This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you. God delights in forgiveness and restoration. He really does. verse nine. I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come with terror. you know, Bert, I've had a number of skeptics and atheists say that, you know, God. God enjoys just judging people or creating people just to consign them to hell. God's not like that. Now, if people are bent on rejecting God, eventually, yes, there comes a time when that unbelief and rejection is final. But God delights in mercy. And I want to say to everybody listening, no matter, you know, how bad you think you are, yes, we're sinners. We need Jesus. The Lord Jesus loves you no matter who you are, what you've done, how bad you think you might be. Jesus Christ will forgive you right now, today, if you put your faith in Him. God delights in forgiveness and saving. Our Lord is in the saving business, isn't He, Bert?
Bert Harper Hallelujah. And he wants to do it now. Don't delay. Come to him now and again. This is God's heart. see it right there. Verses 8 and 9. God's heart. He remembers how that relationship was. He sees how they ignored it and they refused to repent. And that now he talks about his heart desiring them. Now, verse nine is powerful. I will not execute fierceness of my anger. I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am, God and not man. The Holy One in your midst. And I will not come with terror. Now this, I am not God and not man. That's repeating Numbers 23:19. When God was telling his children concerning the, who he was, as he had brought them out of Egypt. And again, they were trying to go their way. And here's what God said here. God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent as he said. And will he not do it if he said it, Will he not do it? Or has he spoken? And will he not make it good? Listen, God, here, let me say this. Throw it back to you. Too many. Too many men are trying to be God, Alex. Okay, that's.
Alex McFarland Wow.
Bert Harper And, no way. No way. God is God and he is not man. And so. And here it is, the important part. It shows his heart here. My heart churns within me. My sympathy is stirred. And then he says, and I am, God, and I am not man. I'm the One. I'm the Redeemer. I'm the Creator, the Redeemer, I'm the Restorer. I can do all this, if you would go back, is what it said. They would not repent if they would return, break up that fallow ground, seek the Lord God was. God is ready, isn't he, for those that do that?
Alex McFarland Well, exactly. And that is still the case with America, too. let me just say this, that, this last verse of chapter 11, Ephraim has encircled me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still walks with God, even with the Holy One, who is faithful. Bert, didn't it. Wasn't it the southern kingdom that experienced some revivals, but really the northern kingdom never did?
Bert Harper That's exactly right. Matter of fact, if you go through, there's five different revivals that took place in the southern kingdom, Judah, and up in the northern kingdom, Israel. Ephraim. Why would they say Ephraim? Because they're the largest tribe. They were the most influential. Just like the, two tribes that were left was Benjamin and Judah. But they're called what Judah. And here Hosea again and again calls Israel. sometimes it's referring to them as the leader, but the whole, all of them, that is so powerful. But Judah still walks with God, even with the Holy One, who is faithful. Now, I want to bring that up. God is faithful. He's faithful to his Word. And I think that's referring back to verse nine. For I am God and not man. And then that refers back to numbers, chapter 23 and 19. If God said it, he's going to do it. If God brings it about. He said he would, he'd bring it about. God is faithful in redemption, but God is also faithful. I don't know how to say it. In judgment. And his judgment is always right, isn't
Alex McFarland is. Verse 12 is really a kind of a summary, a spiritual summary of the two. Two pieces of the divided kingdom.
Bert Harper That's. That's true. That's exact. That's a good point, Alex. I had them highlighted in my Bible. And, but when you look at that, that is the summary. So let's get the dates right. the northern Israel would be destroyed in 7, 22. that means 8th century, B.C. but then Judah would last. Was it about 150 years longer? Was it 5? What was it 5.
Alex McFarland Yeah, it was a little bit longer. Yeah, till,
Bert Harper it was in the 500s B.C. yeah,
Alex McFarland yeah, 587.
Bert Harper That's it. I believe I started say 86, but I think you're right. And, and so here it is, Judge, righteousness is good. You remember the commandments. Obey your father and mother that your days may be long on the earth. Now that's individual. But guess what? It is. the Ten Commandments was given to who? The nation of Israel. And if one generation would pass down the faith to the other generation and obey that in faith, the years will be longer. And that's why America, it's so important for we as godly, people who are following God to say we need to obey God's word. We need to respect what our founding was, is, you know, the Declaration of Independence. Understanding what Thomas Jefferson and, and, and James Madison and all those who put their heart and their soul and their life into it, that they saw this and understood this. Alex. And if one generation doesn't receive that, then they're taking their lives in their own hands, aren't they?
Alex McFarland Well, they really are. They really are. And the northern kingdom would be taken by the Assyrians, the Southern kingdom, ultimately by the Babylonians. But it's all going to come back together. And God will send his son.
Bert Harper Triple. 858-98-8840 we'd love to hear your call today on exploring the Word. A recent Danish study reveals something heartbreaking. Just one year after an abortion, women were 50% more likely to need psychiatric treatment and 87% more likely to experience personality or behavioral disorders. That's not women's health care, that's trauma. But at preborn, women find the real kind of care, the kind that heals. When a woman walks into one of preborn's network clinics, she's welcomed with open arms. She's introduced to her baby through an ultrasound. And for the first time, she sees life, not loss. And she's offered hope filled choices. When she chooses life, PreBorn continues walking with her for up to two years, providing maternity clothes, diapers, counseling, and so much more. There are babies in their mother's wombs who need your help right now. As the year comes to a close, your tax deductible donation can be the difference between life and death. I'm calling for an army of people to begin giving $28 to PreBorn today. $28 can help provide one ultrasound that can rescue a life. But for some of you, I want to call you to a higher level A leadership gift. You can do more than $28 today. Your gift of 5, 10 or 15,000 will be used to save countless babies for years to come. In fact, $15,000 helps provide an entire ultrasound machine to clinics who desperately need this equipment to save lives. Dial 250 and say the keyword baby. That's £250, baby. Or visit preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr all gifts are tax deductible and PreBorn is a five star rated charity.
Dr. Jessica Peck All my life is in your hands. This whole world may hold me down, but it can never drown you.
Bert Harper Amen. Your life is in his hands. I hope you know that. I hope you trust Jesus and you're there. No man can pluck them out of my Father's hands. Once you have gone to him, and ask him to save you, turn from your ways and go God's way, asking him to be Lord of your life because he died on the cross and rose again, overcoming our greatest enemy, sin and death. And I hope you have that eternal life that just sets you up for living even in this present world. Well, we're going to take phone calls and that number, we do have room for other callers is 8885-898408-88589-8840. But before we get any more calls, we're going to go to Texas and talk to Barry. Barry, thank you for calling. Go right ahead, brother.
Caroline Hi, my, question has to do with Luke 8:26-39. That's where Jesus heals the man of demons from the district of Gerasenes. And, curious about two things. Basically, it was a miraculous, healing. but I'm just curious about the fact that, Jesus was merciful to the demons. I don't see that anywhere else where he is, healing people that were demon possessed. And secondly, why was it necessary to cast those demons into 2,000, pigs, which would have caused a great deal of, poverty for the people that lived there. I just, I'm curious about that. I wonder whether you have an explanation.
Bert Harper Okay, Barry, thank you for your insightfulness in asking questions. Alex. Always heard better than a good answer is a good question. You know, that is a good question. First of all, God's mercy, again, he, he in place of casting them out he of that area, he cast it out of them. And they say, oh, don't throw us there, but put us there. I think, yeah, mercy was involved, but I think Jesus was merciful to let those who were there to watch and see as well. Alex. And where was this taking place? Is this in Jewish territory or is this in Gentile territory? across from the sea. That would be Jewish territory, would it not?
Alex McFarland It would. The country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. I've always wondered, what are they doing raising pigs?
Bert Harper That's. That's. I think that's the answer to one of Barry's questions.
Alex McFarland Yeah. You know, I remember I was a little kid in Sunday school, and I thought, okay, I thought pork was unclean. What. What are the Jews doing raising pigs there? let me just say this one thing, and Bert, you feel free to elaborate or Disagree, but verse 31, they begged him that he would not command them to go out into the abyss. and that's where the demons are going to wind up eventually. For one thing. Jesus is showing his sovereignty, and this should encourage us. the old devil and his demons have to obey the directive of Christ. Clearly, Christ is in control. And those demons that are begging for mercy here, they know that, they have to obey the word of Jesus Christ. And I think that's great encouragement to us, Bert.
Bert Harper I would agree. And again, Jesus demonstrating this, again. And one of those things, Barry. Yeah, he. He. He has mercy on whom he has mercy, and he has judgment on those who. He has judgment. he knows more about it than we do. And we don't know everything that was happening, but we know what did happen. And it's exactly like Alex said, the control of it. But, those. Those pork, rinds and whatever it is they did with a pork, the hogs there, they weren't supposed to be there. So, that's what happened. So I think that was the easier one then about the mercy myself. Thank you, Barry. Brother, appreciate you calling in from time to time with your good questions. Let's go to Georgia and talk to Jon. Jon, thank you for calling.
Caroline Yes, sir. I was reading in Genesis, and, it says that there was light on this on the second day, but the light wasn't from the sun. It was from somewhere else. So the sun wasn't created to the fourth day. I was wondering how would a day be calculated or the Earth, if there was no sun till the fourth day? And maybe does that account for some people saying that the earth is older than what, what the Bible says?
Bert Harper Okay, there was a light source. Okay. it had not been separated, but there was a light source. And again, it's hard to picture everything you see step by step. But here's the. The thing of creation. God does it in order. You know, before he made the birds, he made the sky. Before he made the fish, he made the water. So everything comes in steps. And it's orderly, isn't it, Alex?
Alex McFarland It is. You know, it's interesting. First, Jon 1:5 says that God is light. So during those, And by the way, I absolutely believe in the biblical chronology of creation. and for one thing, the illumination there, could be just the very light present by God being there. And the color is right. The sun had not been created yet, but there was light. And let me give you one other verse, Bert, that I think is fascinating. Fascinating. In Exodus 10:23, okay. During the plagues of Egypt, it says there was darkness all over the land, yet the Israelites had light in their dwellings. Isn't that something? During the plagues of Egypt, there was such a thick darkness, it terrified people. and yet, by virtue of God's presence in the Hebrew families, the Israelites had light in their dwellings. So wherever almighty God is, and that would include the creation week, there is light, even apart from the light of the sun that he would eventually create.
Bert Harper And on the mount of Transfiguration, Jesus Christ lets that Shekinah glory light come through. And, those men that were there were there to see that, and they reported it to us. The Shekinah glory, it is light. God's presence is sufficient. Let's go to North Carolina. Danielle, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Danielle Hi. Oh, God bless you both. I listen to you both every day. I'm at work. I was just
Alex McFarland wondering,
Danielle you would pray for me. God's been really on my heart lately about, evangelizing the people. And I don't know what is. What it is. I just. I just need a lot of prayer to help me to do it more.
Bert Harper Okay, Danielle, listen. Alex, go ahead.
Alex McFarland First of all, I want to say God bless you every blessing, and may the heart to see souls saved grow and grow in all of us. But God is always going to be pleased when people want to see folks brought to Christ.
Bert Harper Amen. he called the apostles first. He said, I'm going to make you fishers of men. And listen, that was them. But he still wants us to, be the witness and give witness. It's both, Daniel. We show his witness. We demonstrate it, but we also speak it. Be ready to give an answer of the faith that is in you. When they ask you how Come you live the way you do. What's different? Be ready to give that answer. And, God will guide you. Take the opportunity. And let me just say one more thing. A word fitly spoken. Very few times is it one individual that did it all. It's usually that person giving a witness, that person saying a word, that person having an action, and then the reaping comes. It really does happen that way. So let's be a witness all the way through and give testimony of what God has done. Thank you, Danielle. Amen. Let's go to Carol in Mississippi. Carol, go right ahead.
Caroline Yes. I had a question about authority and the elections that we just had and how people get disturbed. Those who call themselves Democrats or Republicans. But if we are Christians and believe in the authority and power of God, then we have to think that that authority that he's given to whoever he puts in, in office comes from him. Roman Romans 13:1 mentions that. And also Daniel 2:21 talks about how God establishes the seasons and those people who own, throne. If he takes one down, he puts another one up. So we should just relax in that. God knows what's going on. And we may think one, party is more righteous than the other, but there are image barriers in both parties, and we just have to trust God in these situations, I think.
Bert Harper Okay, Carol, thank you for calling. Let me just share this with you. God didn't say, oh, that caught me by surprise. What took place. And, one more thing, Alex, and I'll throw it to you. Authority has to be used correctly. He may put a person in authority, but what do they do with it? One example, real quick, and I'll throw it to Alex. King Saul. King Saul, when he first started out, you can understand when you see some humility there, hiding. They have to find him, you know. But you got to watch what you do with power. Let me. I'm just telling you what you do with power and what you do with God's blessing. And that's what we've been studying in Hosea. God had blessed them again and again and again, and they blew it. And so, that's the one reason God takes up and takes down as many times, Alex, is cause the person who, or individual or party that had the authority, they didn't do it and bring God's glory. Am I off track there?
Alex McFarland No, I think you're very. You're correct there. because the Daniel 2, does say Daniel 2:21, that God sets up kings and takes down kings. And you know, on the one hand, I realize with the collar, we can relax. Knowing that I want to say this, Jesus isn't worried. God is not taken by surprise. However, it could be that God allowed certain people to come into power, because of our deserving of judgment. You know,
Bert Harper I see it.
Alex McFarland let me say this. There can be godly leaders, There can be ungodly leaders. I mean, you could have an ungodly person put pro life judges on the Supreme Court, and then you could have somebody who is a professed Christian, I think about, like the late President Jimmy Carter. I'm sure he was a believer. And yet because of his politics, he put ungodly, people and policies in place. do you know, George Barna says there are probably 120 million born again adults America right now. Now, how many people voted Tuesday? Like 57 million. Only 17% of Christians voted. they estimate, listen, if 50% of the Christians had voted, the elections would have turned out very differently. The stock market is down today. In the last 24 hours, American citizens lost $1.2 trillion of their savings and investments. As the market reacts, knowing probably how these Democrats are going to govern. So I'm with you that God is in control. But at the same time, just because a leader has been allowed to come to the stage doesn't mean they're a good person or are, going to be a good leader. It's always to our benefit to try to have godly people that are moral and constitutional in positions of authority.
Bert Harper Carol, real quick. I think our study of Hosea has demonstrated that the Northern kingdom, hey, every king was evil, did evil in their eyes, and look what happened. In the Southern kingdom, you had several kings that were godly, following God, and they, they were blessed in so many ways with length of time. So, yeah, we want that. But God, no, he. He's in control and we trust him. Let's go to North Carolina. Shawn. Thank you for calling. Go right ahead, brother.
Shawn Hey, how y' all doing? I, listen to your show a lot and God bless you guys for what you're doing.
Bert Harper Thank you, brother.
Shawn My question is about the pigs. I think you answered it before, but I'm just a little confused. So once they were cast into the pigs, how did they go from pigs to being, you know, demons elsewhere? Because I thought it was only God who can give that power to cast out.
Bert Harper Did they leave the pigs and go find themselves? There's a scripture about that. man, he cleaned himself up, and the demon that left went couldn't find a place to find. He brought seven more with him worse off. Is that. Could that have happened?
Alex McFarland Yeah. Oh, absolutely. I mean, personal reform. The man cleaned himself up, but, just to be empty isn't enough. You need to be filled with something. And that thing that we need to be filled with is the spirit of God and the word of God.
Bert Harper The Bible doesn't clearly say what happened to those demons after those pigs ran off the cliff. again, the Bible, the answers that we don't get. Let it draw you to Christ that he is so great and so big. He is past our human capacity to know, Alex. He's a big God and a good God, isn't he?
Alex McFarland He really is. He really, really is. We're gonna, We, want to say thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. Thank Brent Austin for running the board. It's good to be with you. I'm gonna go speak, so y' all keep me in prayer.
Bert Harper Thank you for listening. The views and
Caroline opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family Association or American Family Radio.
>> The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word
Bert Harper hosea. chapter 10. Listen to these two parts of two verses. In verse two, their heart is divided. And then down in verse five, its glory has departed. these are bad references to the nation of Israel. That is Hosea is prophesying will be, just destroyed, done away with. And so that's what we're studying here in chapter 10. But we'll keep on going. And each time we see it, we say, yes, there's judgment, but intermingled in all of that, there's hope. And we want to share that hope with you today. Well, this is Bert Harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland. And we are going through the Book of Hosea. And Alex, we're going to. You're going to sound a little bit different today than you usually do. Tell everybody why.
Alex McFarland Well, Bert, good evening. It's great to be with you and good to be with everybody in the Book of Hosea. I'm not in North Carolina today. I'm in Orlando, Florida. And what an honor. You, remember our colleague Dan Steiner of PreBorn. Well, PreBorn is having a national conference down here. There are hundreds and hundreds of, people from all over America and internationally that lead pregnancy care centers. And they will, provide a sonogram for an expectant mother. And There's a nearly 100% chance an expectant mother will keep her, her baby and not abort. And I have the great privilege along with like, my friend Lee Strobel. Do you remember Lee Strobel that wrote the Case for Christ?
Bert Harper I certainly do, yes.
Alex McFarland Well, we're teaching evangelism because Dan Steiner and his wonderful staff, they want the, pregnancy care pro life centers to know how to lead people to Christ. And it's just a joy. And there are a lot. I've already met people from all over America that they come up and they say how they love exploring the Word and they love afr. But it's my joy. I'm teaching evangelism and some apologetics in there answering common objections. But y' all keep us in prayer because, this pre, Born Pro Life convention is like a revival meeting.
Bert Harper I can imagine. Preborn, is one of our ministry partners and we love them. Thank God for Dan Steiner. And what God's doing with him. And, so, Alex, we'll be praying that you. It will just be a grand time equipping, but also rejoicing in what God is doing and saving lives of the babies, but also mug many of those mothers coming to Jesus Christ as Savior.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Bert Harper So let me. Yeah, go ahead.
Alex McFarland And I want to say this. Just, a little bit ago, we heard from probably the predominant pro life leader from Australia. a young lady gave a speech that was just, standing, ovation kind of speech. And, you know, the recent elections are on everybody's mind. And, you know, states like Virginia modified their state constitution to allow zero protection for the unborn. But nevertheless, let me say this group of people, myself included, we are more committed than ever to the sanctity of human life and to protecting the unborn and evangelizing the mothers and fathers. And I want to tell you, the zeal for the Lord and for America is undiminished here.
Bert Harper Amen. And we want to share that, and we want to give hope, because that hope is in Christ. It's not in government. Regardless of what we might think or hope, it is in Christ and Christ alone. Well, let's get started in chapter 10. And again, we, go through this. Let me give some highlights, Alex. And you can go back and pick up the different things. But I already did the one that I thought was important. Their heart is divided. Now, this is verse 2. They are held guilty. That's the whole idea. They're guilty. Then verse 4. Their judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field. They have sown so much, unfaithfulness, immorality, idolatry. It's springing up. And then notice it says, because the inhabitants of Samaria feel. Because of the. The calf of Beth Haven. Sumerian. Beth Haven. They had put a calf there that they worshiped. Does that sound familiar? Sounds like Egypt and what they brought up out of Egypt. And then in verse 5, its glory has departed from it. they had every chance. Everything but their heart is divided. They'd say, we want your blessing, but we want to worship baal. Now, that's how divided they were and how crooked they're thinking was. Alex.
Alex McFarland Mm m. Well, do you remember the word Ichabod? That's in First Samuel. Yeah. And a, variation of it is here in verse five. The glory has departed. verse six. The idol also shall be carried to Assyria as a present for King Jareb. Ephraim shall receive not glory, but shame. And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. sin always brings eventual shame, doesn't it? you know Proverbs 14:34. Righteousness exalts a nation. Sin is a reproach, a, bringing down a shaming. And that shame is on any nation that sins, the United States included.
Bert Harper It is so true. And the judgment continues. The hills fall on us. listen, it's going to be utter destruction. You read all the things in the places, it says. But verse 11 brings us up into a word picture. And what follows here is what we referred to yesterday, and we're going to go back over it. Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh grain. But I harnessed her fair neck. I will make Ephraim pull a plow. Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break its his clods. Now again, this heifer's been trained for something else. This. This heifer was meant for something better. But no, the judgment has come. And so the judgment is coming. Verse 12 has difficulty, but promise. So for yourselves righteousness, reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord till he comes and reigns. Righteousness on you. Now, Alex, they had. I'm, going to use this word. They had played the harlot. Now, why would I say that? Hosea's right in this. His wife Gomer had played the harlot. He went and redeemed her back. Her loyalty should have been so, so geared to her husband, Hosea. And so the example here. How many times has God brought the nation of Israel back, trying to help them, trying to strengthen them, but they would not. And he even sews it in, shows us here. So for yourselves, righteousness. And I'm going to say the opposite, not unrighteousness. You catch it, what I'm saying?
Alex McFarland Yeah. Well, verse 12 is a fascinating verse. And, let's camp out here a little bit. sow for yourselves righteousness. So that's like sowing seed. you know, don't plant sin and reap a harvest of judgment. Sow for yourselves righteousness. Reap in mercy. Okay, then, the, phrase that we talked about yesterday, about plowing up and tilling the soil that had laid dormant for a while. Break up your fallow ground. And of course, the obvious, illustration here is to cultivate our heart, you know, by the way, I know what it is to rotate crops, Bert, on our little 35 acre farm, of course, we would rent about 100 acres all around us and grow corn. but my dad, he was very intelligent about farming. He had a degree from NC State in agribusiness. But we would rotate crops and there would be five and six and seven acre parcels that we would not use for two or three years. And he. I remember my dad would tell me that, you know, you leave it dormant, let the nitrogen build up again. And then he would. And I was just a kid, it'd be years where I ever knew this phrase. He would say, we're going to break up the fallow ground. Here's the thing, though. When the field is laid dormant for a few years, the top layer is kind of hard and you gotta break through that. And Bert, there's more I want to say about verse 12. But isn't that the way with the human heart, though? Let's, say people, it's been a few years since they've been in church. Well, they're going to have to reestablish that habit of going to church. Or you've neglected the Bible for a while. Break up that fallow ground and pierce through that layer of hardness on your heart and get back tender to the Lord. is not a great. I mean, there's so much in that line that lends itself to our walk, isn't it?
Bert Harper It really is. And be you raised on a farm, me raised on a farm. You see that and you're talking about leaving it out for one year, two years. The longer it is left out without tilling, the harder and deeper the hardness of the, that becomes. And you have to have a big plow. You can't just use a, what we called a hara. just spike sticking down and dragging it. That wouldn't do it. you couldn't just use a flat plow. You had to use a big plow. You had to. You had to go. Yeah, you had to go deep in order to do that. So if you've been away from God, listen, God's plowing of your heart goes deep. And it's going to go down through one layer, two layers, three layers. And, But it is worth it, for it is time to seek the Lord. Now is the time. Today's day of salvation, not tomorrow. Don't put it off to a convenient season. Do it now. Is that right, Alex?
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. This is so good. All right. In my translation, the word righteousness appears two times. Does it in yours, Burke?
Bert Harper Yes. Till he comes and reigns righteousness on us. The last part, yes.
Alex McFarland But in reality, they're slightly different words in the Hebrew. Now listen to this, folks. So for yourselves, righteousness, and it ends till he comes and reigns righteousness on you. Now, the first rendering, what we are to sow is, godliness, truth, obedience. In other words, the right things of following the Lord. Then what is he going to come and reign? And by the way, there's a word picture here because it rain like the precipitation from heaven, is what makes those seeds that we've sown grow. but it says, he reigns. Righteousness on you, blessing and vindication. In other words, the sin is forgiven, the backsliding has been turned around. Heaven is raining down vindication, forgiveness, restoration. The earth is bringing forth a harvest of righteousness. Bert, from top to bottom, there's blessing in being right with God.
Bert Harper Amen. Amen. Verse 13 follows up on that. And, and notice it says, you have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies because you trusted in your own way in the multitude of your mighty men. There's a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. You can justify your vote all day long. If a person votes for some, party that says, yes, it's great to kill babies. We want that. And they celebrate that. Oh, yes. We, we don't want you to keep your creation identity. We don't, we don't care anything about that. And you know, Alex, that's. That is sowing wickedness. That is, in. Ultimately, you're going to reap iniquity. And that's the whole idea, because you've trusted in your own way. Let me just suggest those who are listening, not trying to browbeat you anything, but don't trust in your own way. It may seem right. Go to the Word of God. Trust the word of God. Obey the Word of God. And I want to tell you he'll see you through. Well, we're going to be back and we'll finish chapter 10. Going to chapter 11 here on the. Hello, I'm, Bert Harper. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. That's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.net give that's afr.net give
Dr. Jessica Peck holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. Months and years and years to come. With all creation and sing praise to the King of Kings. And you are My everything and I will adore you.
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word Bird. And Alex here. And we are in Hosea, chapter 10. If you have your Bible, look at verse 15, Alex. In the last three lines, the whole verse says, thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. In a morning, the king of Israel shall be cut off utterly. And again, why would they specify the king? Leadership has its privileges, but, boy, does it have responsibility. Doesn't it, Alex?
Alex McFarland Well, it really does. It really does. I mean, the language is, very vivid here. you know, plowed wickedness reaped iniquity, the fruit of lies trusted in their own ways. Verse 14 and 15. Therefore, tumult. And that's. That's like chaos and anarchy shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be plundered, as Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle. It's a reference to a previous fight that went on. A mother dashed in pieces upon her children. Well, that's hard to think about. Thus it should be done to you because of your great wickedness. At dawn, the king of Israel should be cut off utterly. And, Bert, it was never God's intent that Israel have a king. well, as you know, after the death of Solomon, there was a civil war and the divided kingdom, period that lasted nearly a thousand years. But do you remember Israel said to God, we want to be like other nations. And God basically said to them, yes, but you are not like other nations. I think about the church, a lot of people want to be like the world, but we are not to be like the world. We are different. our message is different. we're not just, platitudes and, you know, positive thinking. We're preaching the risen Christ through whom and through whom alone is salvation. the Bible is not merely an inspiring book. It's inspired, given by God. So I think about, you know, the desire for a king, the desire to be like the rest of the nations of the world. That was never God's intent for Israel. It's not God's intent for the church today.
Bert Harper It is not. And we come to chapter 11, and it's kind of a break from judgment to remembering. Remember what I've done for you. God does that quite often in so many places. Remembering all that God has done for us, all that God had done for that nation, all that God has done for America. We need to remember that and not destroy what got us here. But let me read verse chapter 11, verses one through four at one reading. And we can go back and, and make sure everybody's on. On trail with what, Hosea was saying from the Lord. When Israel was a child, I loved him. And out of Egypt I called my son. So they called them. So they went from them. They sacrificed to Baals and burned incense to carved images. Verse 3. I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms. But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love. And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. And I stooped and fed them. Now again, Hosea is remembering how they became a nation in Egypt because Joseph had gone before them. And then when the famine hit, he brought the family. The family came down there. And when they. After they'd stayed there years and decades long, they had become a nation. And God would lead them out of Egypt, out of bondage where they had been enslaved. And it says, I call them by, my son, I've called them. But when they got there, into the land of promise, Baal's went out for a while. Verse 3. I taught Ephraim to walk. Taking them by their arms, he led them through the wilderness. He established their kingdom. So, Alex, here, God is reminding them all that he had done for them. And this is, this is beautiful language. I, taught them to walk, you know, took them by their arms. You can just. Okay, I can just see it myself with our three sons, Jan and myself, Jan holding the hand of Nathan or Matthew or Micah, and me holding them on the other, and us walking with him down a road, down the driveway. It's a beautiful picture. And that's what God says, I've held you by my hands and bands of love. But they rejected that and went the way of baal, didn't they?
Alex McFarland They did. You know, back in, verse 11 of chapter 10, Ephraim was compared to a heifer and harnessed her fair neck. you know, the neck or the, Well, the neck is kind of a fragile part of the human body. I mean, if you are wounded in your neck, it can be fatal. And the neck of Ephraim was never meant to have a yoke around it or a rope, but that's what it was, a harnessed neck in verse 11 of chapter 10. Now over here in chapter 11, verse 4, I, led them along with gentle cords, not, not with the ropes of servitude, but gentle cords, bands of love I was to them as One who takes the yoke from off their neck. See, serving the Lord alleviates burden and brings liberty. going in the way of sin. That's not freedom. It winds up in bondage. But there's just quite a contrast from the continuing love of God versus the, burden of sin and its fruits. Here, this is Hebrew writing, at its most beautiful and, frankly, most vivid, isn't it, Bert?
Bert Harper It really is. And you get your agrarian culture. They were. And so, you know, looking at this and knowing. Because you're to take the scriptures in the historical stance, and so you got to go back to that and look at that and understand that. And it's a beautiful thing that God had done for them. And what did they do? They took the blessing. They wasted it. They worshiped idols. And, no, you've got. You remember that thing. You got to stay with the stuff. you dance with one that brought you to the dance, okay? And they had not. They had left. They'd gone a different way. Now, verse five changes the subject again. No more remembering, but going back to some things of judgment. He shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyrian shall be his king. Because here's the line. They refused to repent. Now, listen to these words. And the sword shall slash its cities, devour his districts and consume them. Because of their counsels, my people are bent on backsliding from me. Though they call to the most High, none at all exalt him. Now, ah, if you don't mind, I wait to get to verse eight, because this is beautiful about God's heart, but here it tells. Those words are. Are very graphic. Devour, consume. that was the life they were living, wasn't it?
Alex McFarland Yeah, it really was. The Bible says the way of the transgressor is hard. though they call to the most High, none at all exalts him. You know, just because somebody's thinking about God or talking about God doesn't mean that they're worshipping God or obeying God. They're not exalting him. And he goes on, basically, verse eight. How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over Israel? Bert? It almost sounds like when a parent says, what am I going to do with you?
Bert Harper Yeah, that does say that. The last part of verse eight talks about his heart. My heart churns within me. My sympathy is stirred.
Alex McFarland Yeah,
Bert Harper I didn't want to. I didn't want it to go this far, you know?
Alex McFarland Yeah. and how many parents have said, you know, as they're punishing their child. I don't want to have to punish you. This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you. God delights in forgiveness and restoration. He really does. verse nine. I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come with terror. you know, Bert, I've had a number of skeptics and atheists say that, you know, God. God enjoys just judging people or creating people just to consign them to hell. God's not like that. Now, if people are bent on rejecting God, eventually, yes, there comes a time when that unbelief and rejection is final. But God delights in mercy. And I want to say to everybody listening, no matter, you know, how bad you think you are, yes, we're sinners. We need Jesus. The Lord Jesus loves you no matter who you are, what you've done, how bad you think you might be. Jesus Christ will forgive you right now, today, if you put your faith in Him. God delights in forgiveness and saving. Our Lord is in the saving business, isn't He, Bert?
Bert Harper Hallelujah. And he wants to do it now. Don't delay. Come to him now and again. This is God's heart. see it right there. Verses 8 and 9. God's heart. He remembers how that relationship was. He sees how they ignored it and they refused to repent. And that now he talks about his heart desiring them. Now, verse nine is powerful. I will not execute fierceness of my anger. I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am, God and not man. The Holy One in your midst. And I will not come with terror. Now this, I am not God and not man. That's repeating Numbers 23:19. When God was telling his children concerning the, who he was, as he had brought them out of Egypt. And again, they were trying to go their way. And here's what God said here. God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent as he said. And will he not do it if he said it, Will he not do it? Or has he spoken? And will he not make it good? Listen, God, here, let me say this. Throw it back to you. Too many. Too many men are trying to be God, Alex. Okay, that's.
Alex McFarland Wow.
Bert Harper And, no way. No way. God is God and he is not man. And so. And here it is, the important part. It shows his heart here. My heart churns within me. My sympathy is stirred. And then he says, and I am, God, and I am not man. I'm the One. I'm the Redeemer. I'm the Creator, the Redeemer, I'm the Restorer. I can do all this, if you would go back, is what it said. They would not repent if they would return, break up that fallow ground, seek the Lord God was. God is ready, isn't he, for those that do that?
Alex McFarland Well, exactly. And that is still the case with America, too. let me just say this, that, this last verse of chapter 11, Ephraim has encircled me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still walks with God, even with the Holy One, who is faithful. Bert, didn't it. Wasn't it the southern kingdom that experienced some revivals, but really the northern kingdom never did?
Bert Harper That's exactly right. Matter of fact, if you go through, there's five different revivals that took place in the southern kingdom, Judah, and up in the northern kingdom, Israel. Ephraim. Why would they say Ephraim? Because they're the largest tribe. They were the most influential. Just like the, two tribes that were left was Benjamin and Judah. But they're called what Judah. And here Hosea again and again calls Israel. sometimes it's referring to them as the leader, but the whole, all of them, that is so powerful. But Judah still walks with God, even with the Holy One, who is faithful. Now, I want to bring that up. God is faithful. He's faithful to his Word. And I think that's referring back to verse nine. For I am God and not man. And then that refers back to numbers, chapter 23 and 19. If God said it, he's going to do it. If God brings it about. He said he would, he'd bring it about. God is faithful in redemption, but God is also faithful. I don't know how to say it. In judgment. And his judgment is always right, isn't
Alex McFarland is. Verse 12 is really a kind of a summary, a spiritual summary of the two. Two pieces of the divided kingdom.
Bert Harper That's. That's true. That's exact. That's a good point, Alex. I had them highlighted in my Bible. And, but when you look at that, that is the summary. So let's get the dates right. the northern Israel would be destroyed in 7, 22. that means 8th century, B.C. but then Judah would last. Was it about 150 years longer? Was it 5? What was it 5.
Alex McFarland Yeah, it was a little bit longer. Yeah, till,
Bert Harper it was in the 500s B.C. yeah,
Alex McFarland yeah, 587.
Bert Harper That's it. I believe I started say 86, but I think you're right. And, and so here it is, Judge, righteousness is good. You remember the commandments. Obey your father and mother that your days may be long on the earth. Now that's individual. But guess what? It is. the Ten Commandments was given to who? The nation of Israel. And if one generation would pass down the faith to the other generation and obey that in faith, the years will be longer. And that's why America, it's so important for we as godly, people who are following God to say we need to obey God's word. We need to respect what our founding was, is, you know, the Declaration of Independence. Understanding what Thomas Jefferson and, and, and James Madison and all those who put their heart and their soul and their life into it, that they saw this and understood this. Alex. And if one generation doesn't receive that, then they're taking their lives in their own hands, aren't they?
Alex McFarland Well, they really are. They really are. And the northern kingdom would be taken by the Assyrians, the Southern kingdom, ultimately by the Babylonians. But it's all going to come back together. And God will send his son.
Bert Harper Triple. 858-98-8840 we'd love to hear your call today on exploring the Word. A recent Danish study reveals something heartbreaking. Just one year after an abortion, women were 50% more likely to need psychiatric treatment and 87% more likely to experience personality or behavioral disorders. That's not women's health care, that's trauma. But at preborn, women find the real kind of care, the kind that heals. When a woman walks into one of preborn's network clinics, she's welcomed with open arms. She's introduced to her baby through an ultrasound. And for the first time, she sees life, not loss. And she's offered hope filled choices. When she chooses life, PreBorn continues walking with her for up to two years, providing maternity clothes, diapers, counseling, and so much more. There are babies in their mother's wombs who need your help right now. As the year comes to a close, your tax deductible donation can be the difference between life and death. I'm calling for an army of people to begin giving $28 to PreBorn today. $28 can help provide one ultrasound that can rescue a life. But for some of you, I want to call you to a higher level A leadership gift. You can do more than $28 today. Your gift of 5, 10 or 15,000 will be used to save countless babies for years to come. In fact, $15,000 helps provide an entire ultrasound machine to clinics who desperately need this equipment to save lives. Dial 250 and say the keyword baby. That's £250, baby. Or visit preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr all gifts are tax deductible and PreBorn is a five star rated charity.
Dr. Jessica Peck All my life is in your hands. This whole world may hold me down, but it can never drown you.
Bert Harper Amen. Your life is in his hands. I hope you know that. I hope you trust Jesus and you're there. No man can pluck them out of my Father's hands. Once you have gone to him, and ask him to save you, turn from your ways and go God's way, asking him to be Lord of your life because he died on the cross and rose again, overcoming our greatest enemy, sin and death. And I hope you have that eternal life that just sets you up for living even in this present world. Well, we're going to take phone calls and that number, we do have room for other callers is 8885-898408-88589-8840. But before we get any more calls, we're going to go to Texas and talk to Barry. Barry, thank you for calling. Go right ahead, brother.
Caroline Hi, my, question has to do with Luke 8:26-39. That's where Jesus heals the man of demons from the district of Gerasenes. And, curious about two things. Basically, it was a miraculous, healing. but I'm just curious about the fact that, Jesus was merciful to the demons. I don't see that anywhere else where he is, healing people that were demon possessed. And secondly, why was it necessary to cast those demons into 2,000, pigs, which would have caused a great deal of, poverty for the people that lived there. I just, I'm curious about that. I wonder whether you have an explanation.
Bert Harper Okay, Barry, thank you for your insightfulness in asking questions. Alex. Always heard better than a good answer is a good question. You know, that is a good question. First of all, God's mercy, again, he, he in place of casting them out he of that area, he cast it out of them. And they say, oh, don't throw us there, but put us there. I think, yeah, mercy was involved, but I think Jesus was merciful to let those who were there to watch and see as well. Alex. And where was this taking place? Is this in Jewish territory or is this in Gentile territory? across from the sea. That would be Jewish territory, would it not?
Alex McFarland It would. The country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. I've always wondered, what are they doing raising pigs?
Bert Harper That's. That's. I think that's the answer to one of Barry's questions.
Alex McFarland Yeah. You know, I remember I was a little kid in Sunday school, and I thought, okay, I thought pork was unclean. What. What are the Jews doing raising pigs there? let me just say this one thing, and Bert, you feel free to elaborate or Disagree, but verse 31, they begged him that he would not command them to go out into the abyss. and that's where the demons are going to wind up eventually. For one thing. Jesus is showing his sovereignty, and this should encourage us. the old devil and his demons have to obey the directive of Christ. Clearly, Christ is in control. And those demons that are begging for mercy here, they know that, they have to obey the word of Jesus Christ. And I think that's great encouragement to us, Bert.
Bert Harper I would agree. And again, Jesus demonstrating this, again. And one of those things, Barry. Yeah, he. He. He has mercy on whom he has mercy, and he has judgment on those who. He has judgment. he knows more about it than we do. And we don't know everything that was happening, but we know what did happen. And it's exactly like Alex said, the control of it. But, those. Those pork, rinds and whatever it is they did with a pork, the hogs there, they weren't supposed to be there. So, that's what happened. So I think that was the easier one then about the mercy myself. Thank you, Barry. Brother, appreciate you calling in from time to time with your good questions. Let's go to Georgia and talk to Jon. Jon, thank you for calling.
Caroline Yes, sir. I was reading in Genesis, and, it says that there was light on this on the second day, but the light wasn't from the sun. It was from somewhere else. So the sun wasn't created to the fourth day. I was wondering how would a day be calculated or the Earth, if there was no sun till the fourth day? And maybe does that account for some people saying that the earth is older than what, what the Bible says?
Bert Harper Okay, there was a light source. Okay. it had not been separated, but there was a light source. And again, it's hard to picture everything you see step by step. But here's the. The thing of creation. God does it in order. You know, before he made the birds, he made the sky. Before he made the fish, he made the water. So everything comes in steps. And it's orderly, isn't it, Alex?
Alex McFarland It is. You know, it's interesting. First, Jon 1:5 says that God is light. So during those, And by the way, I absolutely believe in the biblical chronology of creation. and for one thing, the illumination there, could be just the very light present by God being there. And the color is right. The sun had not been created yet, but there was light. And let me give you one other verse, Bert, that I think is fascinating. Fascinating. In Exodus 10:23, okay. During the plagues of Egypt, it says there was darkness all over the land, yet the Israelites had light in their dwellings. Isn't that something? During the plagues of Egypt, there was such a thick darkness, it terrified people. and yet, by virtue of God's presence in the Hebrew families, the Israelites had light in their dwellings. So wherever almighty God is, and that would include the creation week, there is light, even apart from the light of the sun that he would eventually create.
Bert Harper And on the mount of Transfiguration, Jesus Christ lets that Shekinah glory light come through. And, those men that were there were there to see that, and they reported it to us. The Shekinah glory, it is light. God's presence is sufficient. Let's go to North Carolina. Danielle, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Danielle Hi. Oh, God bless you both. I listen to you both every day. I'm at work. I was just
Alex McFarland wondering,
Danielle you would pray for me. God's been really on my heart lately about, evangelizing the people. And I don't know what is. What it is. I just. I just need a lot of prayer to help me to do it more.
Bert Harper Okay, Danielle, listen. Alex, go ahead.
Alex McFarland First of all, I want to say God bless you every blessing, and may the heart to see souls saved grow and grow in all of us. But God is always going to be pleased when people want to see folks brought to Christ.
Bert Harper Amen. he called the apostles first. He said, I'm going to make you fishers of men. And listen, that was them. But he still wants us to, be the witness and give witness. It's both, Daniel. We show his witness. We demonstrate it, but we also speak it. Be ready to give an answer of the faith that is in you. When they ask you how Come you live the way you do. What's different? Be ready to give that answer. And, God will guide you. Take the opportunity. And let me just say one more thing. A word fitly spoken. Very few times is it one individual that did it all. It's usually that person giving a witness, that person saying a word, that person having an action, and then the reaping comes. It really does happen that way. So let's be a witness all the way through and give testimony of what God has done. Thank you, Danielle. Amen. Let's go to Carol in Mississippi. Carol, go right ahead.
Caroline Yes. I had a question about authority and the elections that we just had and how people get disturbed. Those who call themselves Democrats or Republicans. But if we are Christians and believe in the authority and power of God, then we have to think that that authority that he's given to whoever he puts in, in office comes from him. Roman Romans 13:1 mentions that. And also Daniel 2:21 talks about how God establishes the seasons and those people who own, throne. If he takes one down, he puts another one up. So we should just relax in that. God knows what's going on. And we may think one, party is more righteous than the other, but there are image barriers in both parties, and we just have to trust God in these situations, I think.
Bert Harper Okay, Carol, thank you for calling. Let me just share this with you. God didn't say, oh, that caught me by surprise. What took place. And, one more thing, Alex, and I'll throw it to you. Authority has to be used correctly. He may put a person in authority, but what do they do with it? One example, real quick, and I'll throw it to Alex. King Saul. King Saul, when he first started out, you can understand when you see some humility there, hiding. They have to find him, you know. But you got to watch what you do with power. Let me. I'm just telling you what you do with power and what you do with God's blessing. And that's what we've been studying in Hosea. God had blessed them again and again and again, and they blew it. And so, that's the one reason God takes up and takes down as many times, Alex, is cause the person who, or individual or party that had the authority, they didn't do it and bring God's glory. Am I off track there?
Alex McFarland No, I think you're very. You're correct there. because the Daniel 2, does say Daniel 2:21, that God sets up kings and takes down kings. And you know, on the one hand, I realize with the collar, we can relax. Knowing that I want to say this, Jesus isn't worried. God is not taken by surprise. However, it could be that God allowed certain people to come into power, because of our deserving of judgment. You know,
Bert Harper I see it.
Alex McFarland let me say this. There can be godly leaders, There can be ungodly leaders. I mean, you could have an ungodly person put pro life judges on the Supreme Court, and then you could have somebody who is a professed Christian, I think about, like the late President Jimmy Carter. I'm sure he was a believer. And yet because of his politics, he put ungodly, people and policies in place. do you know, George Barna says there are probably 120 million born again adults America right now. Now, how many people voted Tuesday? Like 57 million. Only 17% of Christians voted. they estimate, listen, if 50% of the Christians had voted, the elections would have turned out very differently. The stock market is down today. In the last 24 hours, American citizens lost $1.2 trillion of their savings and investments. As the market reacts, knowing probably how these Democrats are going to govern. So I'm with you that God is in control. But at the same time, just because a leader has been allowed to come to the stage doesn't mean they're a good person or are, going to be a good leader. It's always to our benefit to try to have godly people that are moral and constitutional in positions of authority.
Bert Harper Carol, real quick. I think our study of Hosea has demonstrated that the Northern kingdom, hey, every king was evil, did evil in their eyes, and look what happened. In the Southern kingdom, you had several kings that were godly, following God, and they, they were blessed in so many ways with length of time. So, yeah, we want that. But God, no, he. He's in control and we trust him. Let's go to North Carolina. Shawn. Thank you for calling. Go right ahead, brother.
Shawn Hey, how y' all doing? I, listen to your show a lot and God bless you guys for what you're doing.
Bert Harper Thank you, brother.
Shawn My question is about the pigs. I think you answered it before, but I'm just a little confused. So once they were cast into the pigs, how did they go from pigs to being, you know, demons elsewhere? Because I thought it was only God who can give that power to cast out.
Bert Harper Did they leave the pigs and go find themselves? There's a scripture about that. man, he cleaned himself up, and the demon that left went couldn't find a place to find. He brought seven more with him worse off. Is that. Could that have happened?
Alex McFarland Yeah. Oh, absolutely. I mean, personal reform. The man cleaned himself up, but, just to be empty isn't enough. You need to be filled with something. And that thing that we need to be filled with is the spirit of God and the word of God.
Bert Harper The Bible doesn't clearly say what happened to those demons after those pigs ran off the cliff. again, the Bible, the answers that we don't get. Let it draw you to Christ that he is so great and so big. He is past our human capacity to know, Alex. He's a big God and a good God, isn't he?
Alex McFarland He really is. He really, really is. We're gonna, We, want to say thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. Thank Brent Austin for running the board. It's good to be with you. I'm gonna go speak, so y' all keep me in prayer.
Bert Harper Thank you for listening. The views and
Caroline opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family Association or American Family Radio.
Join Bert Harper and Alex McFarland for a study of Hosea 10–11, where Israel’s divided heart and unfaithfulness bring a warning of judgment, and God’s compassion offers a powerful reminder of hope. The hosts unpack the image of “breaking up fallow ground,” encouraging listeners to seek the Lord, return to Scripture, and cultivate a heart that is responsive to God.
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