Hosea 12-14: The Ways of the Lord

 Who is wise? He will realize these things.
   Who is discerning? He will understand them.
The ways of the LORD are right;
   the righteous walk in them,
   but the rebellious stumble in them. - Hosea 14:9 NIV

If ever we needed someone who is wise, it is now.  Perhaps it has always been that way.  There have always been rulers and kings, prophets and seers, but there are few who could have been said to be truly wise.  Answers and solutions, there are plenty of those to go around.  Laws and regulations, they abound.  Platitudes and promises, when will we have enough?  When will we confess that we don't have all the answers?  When will we realize that being in a questioning frame of mind, waiting on God for the answers is where we are to be, is the place where we are the safest, is the place where we have rest?

'Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden', Jesus said, 'and I will give you rest.'  (Matt. 11:28) He never said, come to me and give me the right answer.  He said that all of our work, all of our efforts, are labors that grind and pull us down.  They place a burden on us that is too heavy to carry.  Our work no matter how holy, no matter how much it is meant to glorify God, does not build us up.  It doesn't provide satisfaction, it doesn't provide peace, it doesn't provide the answer.  Only one provides all of that and he's waiting for our questions, not our answers.  He's waiting to give us, not be given to.  Only the ways of the Lord are right, only his ways.  If we're wise we will realize that all we need are the questions.  We will run to him for his answer instead of being so hasty to provide our own.

2010 Post - Hosea 12-14:  Who is Wise?