This is a chapter of curse, of punishment, of rejection. Isarel will be rejected because they wouldn’t listen to their Father.

God had spoken to them, but they wouldn’t listen. God told them how to walk in the blessing, but they wouldn’t listen to Him.

What are you not listening to? I didn’t listen for years about not watching TV. I would think that maybe He wanted me to stop. I would say to myself, “Well, if I knew He wanted me to stop, then I would, but I don’t know that I have to.”

I wouldn’t have been thinking about it if I wasn’t feeling some conviction over it. It wasn’t enough for me that God might want me to stop. I should have dropped it like a hot potato if there was any question that it might come between me and the Lord. I didn’t. I held on for years.

Getting rid of it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I was a fool to hold onto it.

One of the warnings in the chapter is that Israel will become like the thing they loved.

If we are going to become like that which we love, we should make sure it’s Jesus!

Don’t chase after other things. Don’t give your time, money, energy to other things. Set your sights on God alone and get Him, become like Him.

The Lord says they will know when the day of their punishment has come. That was a curse on Isarel.

When a believer realizes they have left the Lord, when a believer comes to their senses and realizes that they have lost the Lord and have been given over to their sin which is destroying them, they should wake up and run home.

The prodigal son is left in his choices and destruction and affliction until he comes to his senses. Then he makes the right choice to turn around and go home. Then the Father runs to him. God is willing to forgive and show mercy. He loves to love, but He hates sin. He hates the things that destroy those He loves.

If you have gone astray, if you are loving something other than God. Come to your senses and run home.