A Snatching

When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Hosea 5:13-15 

My, it seems Ephraim has sought to God of the people. See, they much rather ought to though perhaps they have not just yet. The illness that's been spreading around is all from the Lord. In life sometimes things happen as a result of the fall and sometimes our sin. Yet when we know the Lord these things should not come as a shock. For so has he promised those of his people that when they turn to him from their affliction, he will seek them much early and so shall they find. Then too will he be God of his people. It is good indeed to seek shelter there at his hands. Now it is not for no reason that Psalm 91 tells of it this as those who have learned to "abide under the shadow of the Almighty." By no means am I comparing the Lord to a very big bird, he is far greater by any than that. So then what is to be done when we have all we humanly can except for to trust in the Lord. There will peace and safety be found at his hands no matter what we have done or still will find yet to do. How many know the goodness of God to his people. He is there all the time, come what may, no matter if Gomer has come or has gone or has remained yet at home. See, the personalities matter little when these are found of the Lord. Indeed, did he not say he would be Father to the fatherless and quite possibly a mother as well. For then will he be God to his people. The father and mother may come of a house but you must take care to forget not the Lord. It sure is so easy to get caught up on all sorts of people. So too is it easy to forget not your own peculiar sort of identity. There is Ephraim and Judah listed quite plainly as them having suffered some grevious sort of rebuke. How much rather should we not seek the God who is found of his people. Come on now, he is not just up there playing a game right when we have needed him most to be found. Nor is it that he is the God with a mighty big sword waiting to smite down any that have taken the way to depart. Else would Scripture not tell of his "daily loading us with benefits" right from the start. He is God to his people because can't nobody do it quite that well. The error is found then in the midst of the sickness and that of the wound as some other sort of a human aid there is sought. King Jareb, I believe the text calls him, who had no help he could bring. How like that word sounds to where we get our word scarab. Perhaps you may have heard of the scarab beetle, resurrection symbol of Egypt and the house of the dead. These too at times worshipped it as a god so I heard. Yet what is there to be done when all it speaks of is the nursing of life after death. There is no returning to be found there in that, nor is the restoration soon to follow of that are you sure. See, when the Lord once came to the house of the dead even the one he had loved once as a "Lazarus come forth," he could call out that because he speaks to us all. Indeed, as the one with the power, he has vanquished all death, though it takes some time to be worked out in the natural realm here of man. Could that be the reason for the disappearance of Shiloh as though it faced death, one mighty big foe. For this then are there no cures to be found. As popular as King Jareb is with his powders and perfumes and all sorts of wishes, can he in no way cause an illness there to depart. So too what good is the wrapping if it only covers the sore. There is no cure to be found there in that. Yet there is one that may be sought, the God to his people. In times like these, of chaos and an unwanted national disaster, it is best to put our trust in the Lord. Perhaps the Assyrian would also be able with his much dashing and prancing as though one would to charm death itself. What good is the matter though when the doctor the Lord. Perhaps you may already know of the God who is found of his people. Then is it to no benefit to elaborate still on condition. So it came of the matter that these were all waiting, laid out just fresh for the taking. How many of you know how the Lion does. So too does the Lion of that tribe in taking so many prides. You might have thought yourself finished with the story written and the victory won. But how many of you know the God to his people. Is there not a lion whether young or old who comes dashing in to the aid of his fold. Perhaps to King David who once kept his flocks of sheep in the hills, such a matter would have been serious indeed as one charged to keep watch from the prey. He too once took down the bear and caught the lion right by the hair. In fact, was it not his whole resume for looking after the people. When the Lord had called him though, it seemed none could stop him whether rebellious ruler or Philistine giant, as the stories were told. Indeed, there is life in those words as though formed from the very breath of the Lord. Imagine the Lion then that is ancient of years. He has come there into the house to appear to those of Ephraim that otherwise lacked some of sense. It might not be popular to you there at the first. Yet when you are lacking as much as identity from what you once knew, catching the One self-possessed of you all, there is power in that. Perhaps between the calling, "my Lord and my God," as did Mary once in the garden, we too will be able to tell the keepers of it from our Lord there as well. Then as with Judah will come forth the young of the fold, fresh from the lion having been snatched from the jaws of defeat. So then are there none, other having been so found of the Lord. How good is it to seek him early from our first former afflication that our deliverance too might come at his hands. So then is it good to be so found of our Father and kept by him far better than any might or ever could do. For there is the frame and the building and the whole house put together being found in his form. Indeed, is it to no reason that our Lion, the captian of our salvation thus appears. Well might some of us fear and tremble at his coming in though to the fold. See, the enemy too appears as a lion though roaring, ever present, up and stalking around as though seeking who else may be found. It seems our God then has come in with rebuke, being so found in his fold, our high king and master who answered the call. To the accuser then he runs and to that of our foe. It seems he will not suffer any to be found in this way having snatched them safely back to his house or another without much delay. So then to trust him is all we should do.