Contemplative Bible Reading

Hosea 13:6 (New Living Translation)

6 But when you had eaten and were satisfied,
you became proud and forgot me.

God is talking to the people through the prophet Hosea. God delivered the people through the desert—a dry and thirsty land. The people depended on God for daily sustenance. Once settled in a land with good agriculture and good food…

Food is good. Necessary for life. We eat to live. Sometimes we live to eat (not so good). The people described above turned away from God once they had good food to eat. They traded away God for a good meal.

How in the world could these people have been so bad? How could anyone trade away God for something so temporary as a good, tasty meal?

That silly little question is one of the bigger ones we can consider in our relationship with God. God gave us senses to enjoy the creation. And we let these senses pull us away from God. The “desires of the flesh” are described in several places in the Bible. Powerful stuff. Temporary stuff. Enticing stuff. The kind of stuff that has ruined countless lives.

God, thank you for the ability to enjoy all you have created. Let me not trade away You for the pleasures You have provided.