Hosea 11:2 But the more they were called,
    the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
    and they burned incense to images.

My first response to this is, that’s human nature for you. This seems very much like the behavior of a 2-year-old child, with tragic consequences. We had a friend with a grandson around that age, and he loved trains. He got out of the house one day and made it to the railroad tracks, but was spotted by someone, the closest station was notified, and the train was stopped until he could be corralled. He was punished, but obviously not enough, because he did it again, this time was not spotted, and the undercarriage of the train hit his head, and after a week’s coma, he died. That to me is very much what is described here. God is the perfect parent, but we are far from perfect children. Our behavior gets us into countless messes that God doesn’t desire or intend. The devil dangles all sorts of worthless things in front of us, distracting us all too effectively from devotion and obedience to the One who created and loves us. He even uses things God created for our good and twists them into goals in themselves, replacing God in our attention and devotion. Genesis is very clear that everything God created was and is good, but when it is twisted, it can actively serve evil. Referring specifically to this verse, God gave us creativity and skill, but when those good gifts are used to create carved idols, great evil is generated. The same may be said for countless other things, including sex and ambition and on and on. We need to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to show us how we have distorted the things God has given us, and then repent and follow Him in the right application of everything He has provided. That is the path of true blessing.

I have as much experience as just about anyone in this area, I think. God has blessed me incredibly, but my application of those blessings and my attitude toward them have been all over the place. He is still teaching me to listen to Him, but my spiritual hearing certainly has room for improvement. He told me years ago to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, but I still get tied in knots over all sorts of things. At this point, I have considerable appreciation for the saying “There’s no fool like an old fool.” I need to listen to and apply everything He says to me, so that I may fulfill every purpose He has for me, for my blessing, the blessing of those around me, and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for that dream this morning that pointed out I still need Your internal “house cleaning.” May I not resist what You are doing in me, but stand firmly against every impulse of the devil, so that I may be useful to You indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!