Hosea 2:8 “She has not acknowledged that I was the one
who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil,
who lavished on her the silver and gold–
which they used for Baal.”

I don’t know the Hebrew for this passage, but for once I like the NIV interpretation even more than the Japanese, though the Japanese is probably more literal. Where the Japanese says, “She didn’t know,” the NIV says, “She didn’t acknowledge.” True ignorance isn’t as reprehensible as ignoring the facts. In any case, this verse is about gratitude. As long as we refuse to admit that everything we have comes from God, we aren’t going to walk in the blessings of intimacy with Him that He desires. The whole story of Hosea and his prostitute wife is a painfully graphic illustration of how we prostitute the relationship God wants to have with us. As I tell couples all the time, sex is only a small part of the intimacy for which God has designed a husband and wife, and by extension, for which He has designed mankind in relation to Him. Again as I regularly tell couples, the most missing expression (that should be used but isn’t) in marriage is “thank you.” Marriages fall apart without appreciation being felt and expressed, and we cut ourselves off from God by failing to appreciate all that He has done and continues to do for us. Current “atheism” that seems all the rage in some circles isn’t actually atheism at all, it’s an elevation of man to godhood, and that was part of the original temptation in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:5) The devil doesn’t want us to appreciate and thank and praise God, and we fall into his trap all too easily. That is probably the chief reason God allows disasters of all kinds to happen to us, to help us recognize that we can’t go it alone, that He is our Source, our Supply, our Shield and our Healer.

Japan has been something of a “poster child” of the modern age since the end of WWII, focusing on and promoting human ability. She has seemingly done very well at it, but now the cracks in the facade are becoming quite evident. Even before the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster almost a year ago, Japan was in quite a fix with political and economic stagnation. I have been physically present in Japan for the vast majority of the post-war period, so in a way I’ve been too close to have a good perspective on the situation. However, I am painfully aware that Japanese society as a whole has not acknowledged their Creator, and that’s why I’m here today. My calling is to be an instrument for opening the eyes of the Japanese to see who God is, and who they are in God’s plan. Of course, I can’t accomplish that in my own strength and wisdom, so I must be actively obedient to God at every turn. I also need to set an example in recognizing and acknowledging God’s abundant blessings, so that their eyes may be lifted from their problems to the Answer, and they may turn their hearts to Him in repentance and faith.

Father, I am amazed at times at how even Christians fail to recognize all You do for us. If they understood, they couldn’t be kept from gathering to thank, praise, and worship You! Help me speak Your truth in love, as gently as possible but as firmly as necessary, to cut through the lies of the enemy and set people free to be all that You desire them to be, for their perfect blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!