Steps 4 and 5

A series on the book of Hosea
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Hosea 4:1-6:3 

[The story about Hosea is a story about the relentless love of God. Hosea was a prophet who spoke out against the idolatry of the Israelites as they pursued the pagan gods of Baal and Asherah. His life became an allegory about the unfaithfulness of Israel and the relentless love of God.]

 

“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

 

This is Step 4 for every twelve-step support program. It involves being totally honest with yourself about your addiction, what you have done because of it and how you have hurt others as a result. It’s a huge step towards taking responsibility for your actions.

 

“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being

the exact nature of our wrongs.”

 

Step 5 follows the completion of Step 4. It’s important that you are completely open and honest with your sponsor. There’s a saying in twelve step programs that, “You’re only as sick as your secrets”.

 

In a way, chapters four and five of Hosea are the exact opposite of Steps 4 and 5. Instead of confessing their wrongs - the priests, leaders and all the people of Israel - received a severe public dressing down from the Lord through Hosea.

 

4 ¹ Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel!
    The Lord has brought charges against you, saying
“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,
    no knowledge of God in your land.      NLT

 

¹² They ask a piece of wood for advice!
    They think a stick can tell them the future!
Longing after idols
    has made them foolish.
They have played the prostitute,
    serving other gods and deserting their God. NLT

The consequences of their idol worship was judgement that would result in them becoming a “heap of ruble”.

 

5 ^1b “Hear this, you priests.
    Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.
Listen, you members of the royal family.
    Judgment has been handed down against you.       NLT

 

Thankfully, the loving Lord is full of grace and mercy. He provided a way for Israel to receive redemption.

 

6 ¹ “Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
    but he will heal us;
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds.          NIV

 

Israel did not work on Steps 4 and 5. They took no “fearless moral inventory”. They didn’t confess to anyone “the exact nature of their wrongs”. They continued to live their lives of worshipping the idols of the day instead of the Living God.

 

We still have idols today. They may not be as obvious as a “piece of wood or stick or a temple prostitute”. But we have them nonetheless. Thankfully, the Lord is still full of grace and mercy. His relentless love is constantly pursuing us to accept the redemption that He provided through His son Jesus Christ.

Copyright 2023 Joseph B Williams

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