Conference yukon::christian_v7

225.0. "Hosea 9:10a" by ICTHUS::YUILLE (Thou God seest me) Wed Aug 04 1993 07:34

Last night I was reading through Hosea 9, and saw the first phrase of verse
10 afresh... 


Have you ever been on a long journey through the desert, when your feet
ached from the stamp of the hard ground, your body was parched and baked,
and your tongue was a shrivelled piece of leather?  The sun pours out
energy as though it didn't need to be paid for, and every calory beats
mercilessly down on your head, or reflects like an oven into your face.  In
the evening, when the day has worn out, the rocks around will appear grey -
or even black - but while the day is awakened, they are white and searing
to aching eyes.  Oh!  For something to ease the feeling that you're being 
cooked!

Without breaking tread, reach into the pack, and break off a grape from the
bunch.  Hold it, soft, yet firm, to anticipate the moment of pleasure; to
enjoy its transluscent beauty, before you put it into your mouth with a
sudden eagerness...  The smooth yielding skin bursts to the insistent
pressure of the teeth, and a few drops of the rich, sweet juice escape, to
delight the barren mouth.  Taste buds are awakened to a sensation
exhilarating in richness from it's long absence.  They are not dead after
all!  The journey is forgotten, as the feet obediently continue, their ache
not diminished a whit, but momentarily set aside for something which speaks
louder.  A delicately judged increase of the pressure of the teeth, and the
skin of the fruit splits asunder, the mouth is flooded with the plenty of
its nectar, and the flesh melts as that final urgency wrings out every
vestige of goodness, to give a few moments of blessed relief in the
weariness of the way.  

The delight of heaven reaches down to mitigate the enptiness of the
lifeless cell...  The purest pearl in the old barnacle-encrusted oyster;
the radiant arm of the sun reaching through the angry rainwashed clouds....
He created them all...

  "When found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert..."

							Hosea 9:10 (NIV)

That's what we are to Him.  As He is to us....  I know the verse is written 
to Israel, but it's speaking of the oasis where He is honoured, and can 
reside, amongst His creation in rebellion.  We - the temple of the Holy 
Spirit - should be that oasis of His honour.

 							Andrew

Thanks Andrew.

Leslie

    
    re: .0
    
    That was very well written.
    
    The idea of the Oasis in the desert also bring to my mind what the Body
    of Christ is to the rest of the world. When the world economic systems
    collapses during the current end times, the Church will be like the
    Oasis in the desert for non-believers to seek refuge.
    
    Mike