I hope your week has been going well. Today we’re reading Hosea chapters 6–10.

When I graduated from high school, I went to a community college. Because I couldn’t afford a university, I started at a junior college. My plan was to finish at a university later. Although I started when I was eighteen, I got my degree when I was fifty-eight.

I didn’t stay on track.

My first major was architecture, but I struggled with one of the science requirements. Then two outstanding teachers — one in chemistry and one in anatomy and physiology — helped me get back on track. I was so inspired that I switched my major to mathematics. I’ve always loved math and wanted to be a teacher who could inspire others. Life sidetracked me for a few decades, but I earned a degree in computer science.
Not Just About Skill
Reading Hosea 6–10, I kept seeing a theme about training. Training has been a big part of my life for the last six years. I trained sales agents and used data to evaluate their needs and effectiveness. But I’ve realized something: God’s training would have prepared me better if I had paid attention to the patterns He uses. They’re similar to what I’ve experienced.

God began by delivering Israel from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 13–15). They found Him faithful and learned to trust Him. When I started leading training for sales teams, their numbers went up. They liked the commissions they were making. It was easy to get their respect and cooperation.

When call volume increased and they raised their goals, they panicked and reverted to old habits. Just like Israel did at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 32). Because of that, they wandered in the desert for forty years (Numbers 14:33). My agents struggled too — they stopped using the techniques that had worked and now had even higher goals. Panic and desperation set in.
Drift from God
God rescued Israel again and gave them judges to teach discipline and obedience (Judges 2–3). My challenge was similar: teaching agents new ways to return to what had worked. I did it, and they all flourished.

Israel also prospered. They had kings like Solomon, Omri, Ahab, Hezekiah, and Manasseh who built lavish palaces (1 Kings 6–7; 1 Kings 16:24; 2 Kings 20:13; 2 Chronicles 33:14). But they also had kings like Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea — all of whom seized power through violence, made foreign alliances, led the people into idolatry, and ignored the prophets (Hosea 8:4; 2 Kings 15–17).

God had to teach them again. They were too comfortable in their prosperity to care about righteousness. Much like today — we live in a time where even the poor have luxuries like cars, cellphones, and healthcare. People flaunt their sins thinking there will be no consequences.

But Hosea says otherwise. Like Isaiah, he prophesied before the exile, warning that judgment was coming (Isaiah 1:4; Hosea 9:7). We know from Ezekiel that it came. Many died. More suffered (Ezekiel 5:12).
Education Without God
God has to train us continually because we love the rewards of obedience but forget where those rewards come from.

Our education system used to train according to God’s principles. We even taught the Bible. Now we train for information, not transformation. People used to learn how to think. Now they just memorize facts — many of which are contrived or agenda-driven. (1)

Our emphasis lies on abilities, whereas God and past teachers stressed spiritual matters. Today, people want success without surrender. We end up with a generation that’s brilliant but broken.
Rituals Without Relationship
Hosea 9:4–5 talks about defiled worship. Israel offered sacrifices and drink offerings, but God rejected them. Their rituals were empty. Their festivals became meaningless. They were just going through the motions.

God wants our hearts, not our lips (Hosea 6:6). He wants a relationship, not just our rituals. That’s the genuine message of these chapters.

So I ask: are you just going through the motions? Performing the duties you think the “Teacher” wants? They taught us that. But that’s not what God wants.

We’re called to authentic worship. Does that describe you today? What could you do to change it?

God will give you the way to make those changes if you cry out to Him. He’s given you the Holy Spirit to guide you. Let’s draw nearer to God. Let’s call out to Him today.
Tomorrow, we will read Hosea 11-14.
Footnotes
¹ See Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (New York: Penguin Books, 1985).