IKEA Consequences
“Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.”
Hosea 7:13
The people and the leaders of Israel forgot that the Lord is aware of the sins they have committed. The Lord knows all things - past, present, and future. The people seem to have forgotten how deep the Lord’s awareness knows their sins. Their adultery burns like an oven that can’t control it’s fire. Israel is like a half-baked loaf which is mixed with others. Israel is like a misguided dove that seeks help from Egypt and Assyria but the Lord will bring them down from the skies. Woe to the people of God for they do not seek Him, they only rebel against Him. God longed to redeem His people but they chose to go the other way.
Ikea has the easiest instruction manuals anyone can follow. Their furniture itself is not difficult to put together. I have finished putting together several furniture products from Ikea that I was confident that I can accomplish the projects by myself without any instruction manual or assistance. I remember one time putting together my full bed at my house. This was an easy bed with four sides and a large panel as the headboard. It didn’t seem difficult at all and there were not many screws to use which indicates this should have been an easy and fast furniture to put together. I decided to ignore the instruction manual and began to constructing this bed. However as I got towards the end, I realize I still had two important furniture pieces and several screws remaining. My ego prevented me from looking at the instruction manual and I stood there flabbergasted as to what just occurred. Finally, I gave in and took a look at the instruction manual. I went backwards step by step to see where I could’ve made a mistake. Alas, I found which step I messed up, the second one. So I had to dismantle everything and start from scratch because I chose to ignore the instruction found in the manual.
Foolish right? This is the same with the Israelites’ relationship with God. He was the righteous and He was the guide in their life. They were suppose to accomplish many great things but right now they were facing the consequences for their sins. God has tried multiple times to grab their attention, for the people to return back to the fundamentals. Unfortunately they refused and they continue in their wickedness. It isn’t until much later, when they realize they should have repented back then. By this point, if they continued to rebel against God and repent later - it will make it more difficult to return to the first point where they had a clear relationship with the Lord.
We must be intentional in returning to the Lord immediately and continue to abide the instructions He has given to us through the Holy Spirit that inspired authors to pen the Word of God. Let us continually be disciplined in remaining steadfast in our faith.
“Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”
Proverbs 9:5-6
Wisdom is more precious than silver or gold. Seek to improve upon wisdom and knowledge than gaining monetary gains. There is nothing that compares to gaining wisdom. Wisdom comes with prudence where one is cautious. Fearing God is to hate evil, it is to hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech. God loves those who seek after Him, continue to love God. The fruit we receive from loving God is far greater than any fine gold or silver. It is the Lord after all that has created us and given us birth. He is the One that made this world and each of us by the dust of this world.
