Read Hosea 6 Loyalty Rather than Sacrifice

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 NKJV)

One ambitious young man in the cause of struggling to respond to the call to ministry felt a greater need to support missions financially. He worked hard to do both a law and economics degrees simultaneously. He thought that make most money to finance Gods work. He was disappointed when he failed. He came to realise that God was not after sacrifice. God was after him. His obedience matters more to God than his offering.

Israel was not short of offering sacrifices. However, they were ill-treating the marginalised. They were committing immorality, injustice and idolatry. God desires to show them mercy through their true repentance. Their repentance was superficial, O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away. (Hosea 6:4) Its just crisis religiosity. God wants steadfast, never-ending faithfulness for day-after-day commitment to His will and ways.

Jesus showed moral duties are to be preferred before rituals whenever they come in competition. He ate with publicans and sinners and healing on the Sabbath day, because it was in mercy to the needy. When Jesus heard that, He said to them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (Matthew 9:12-13)

God knows we need mercy as we are imperfect. All our good works are as filthy rags. There are many believers and pre believers alike who are able to sacrifice not only their possessions sometimes their lives. But what God desires is obedience according to His way and will.

God wants them to know Him. They were ignorant. Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. (Hosea 4:1) They refused the knowledge of God. Their burnt offerings thus meant nothing to God without the knowledge of God. He has revealed Himself in His word. Knowledge thats personal, experiential and transformational.

Prayer: Lord You are Mercy to me. I need not depend on my sacrifices. I am product of Your mercy. Through experiencing mercy, I have known You and having heard You is far more important than making sacrifices.

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