WALK IN GOD’S RIGHT WAYS

“For the WAYS of the Lord are RIGHT; the righteous WALK IN THEM, but transgressors stumble in them” – Hosea 14:9b

It is a display of Wisdom when we WALK IN GOD’S RIGHT WAYS: “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the WAYS of the LORD are RIGHT; the righteous WALK IN THEM, but transgressors stumble in them” (Hos.14:9). Here, the Lord invited Israel to return to Him: “I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him” (v.4). In a world that’s filled with unrighteousness and idolatry, we’re called to be disciples of Jesus Christ who fervently seek to know and walk in His Ways. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (Jh. 15:5).

Humanity on a global scale is much like Israel was in the days when the Lord gave Hosea a prophetic word for the people. Israel was a faithless nation; they had brutishly transgressed the covenant, such that the Lord allowed the enemy to attack them like an eagle (Hos.8: 1-2). This one verse at the end of the whole book sums up the book and our response to it. There are two paths before every human being: God’s way and the way that Israel took which the prophet had been at pains to describe. Scripture frequently contrasts the way of the wise and that of the fool or the righteous person’s way and the ungodly person’s way. Everyone compulsorily chooses a way; it is unavoidable. The question is: What way will I choose?

This concluding verse forces the readers to consider their own personal response. Much of the book had been written to the collective of Israel, but now the focus was undeniably personal. The wise person will take to heart, listen and obey God, and choose to walk in His Ways. On the contrary, the foolish will continue to stumble in their sinful ways, disregarding God’s commandments, His appeals of love and His repeated invitation to repent. We all choose continually. What will you choose? Which path are you on right now and will you stay on that path? Will you learn from Israel’s errors? Will you respond to God’s love that graciously woos us back time and time again or harden your heart and close your ears as the Israelites did?

To walk in God’s Right Ways is to be wise: “Who is wise? Let him understand these things.” Wisdom is recognising reality for what it is and acting in harmony with it. God is the Ultimate Reality, and to live in holy reverence before Him is the beginning and end of wisdom: “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (Pro.9:10). Not far removed from the fear of the Lord is understanding that “the ways of the Lord are right.” God is perfect and all His ways are perfectly right, perfectly just. This goes beyond our feelings and thoughts. Regardless of how we feel at the moment, God’s Ways are objectively right.

Though God’s paths are at times rough and tough, they are always good, and always the best. Sinners find God’s path hard, and they stumble in it. They perceive God’s Way as a stumbling block, keeping them from performing all the sins and atrocities that they would like to. They experience it as punishment and guilt when they transgress the bounds that God has established. Those who find the Way of the Lord hard should simply quit fighting against God. This world of relativism thirsts for reality; and this is displayed only by those who know and walk in God’s Ways.

God’s Ways are right; any other way is wrong. We only need to be humble, surrender and experience the forgiveness and abundant life that the Lord alone offers. Of course, no one can follow God’s Ways perfectly in the flesh; we all need His help. But neither is it impossible to walk in His ways, for His Grace is freely offered to all who will simply come to Him and ask.