Mackinac Bridge

A series on the book of Hosea
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Hosea 6:4-10:15 

[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.]

 

At the northern-most point of the lower peninsula of Michigan is all things Mackinaw, or Mackinac. Both spellings are pronounced the same… Mackinaw. They include Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island and of course, the awe-inspiring Mackinac Bridge which crosses, you guessed it… the Straits of Mackinac.

 

Before the bridge was completed in 1957, the only way to cross from the Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was by ferry. In many ways, the completion of the bridge provided economic salvation by increasing tourism.

 

There are many highways that can take you to Mackinac Bridge, but only one Mackinac Bridge will take you to the Upper Peninsula.

 

Moses led Israel out of the slavery of Egypt to the Promised Land. The Israelites knew that salvation waited for them there, but there were many hazards on the way. And even more hazards once they arrived.

 

In the Promised Land, the temptation of the Canaanite gods, Baal and Asherah, was too great for Israel. In Hosea 9 we read that Israel had turned away from the Lord to the pagan gods.

 

^10b “But when they came to Baal Peor, 

they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.              NIV

 

Throughout chapters six through ten of Hosea, we read how the Lord wanted a relationship with Israel; wanted to bring them salvation. But time and again, Israel’s sin kept them separated from the Living God.

 

⁶ I want you to show love,

    not offer sacrifices.

I want you to know me

    more than I want burnt offerings.       NLT   Hosea 6

 

² Now Israel pleads with me,

    ‘Help us, for you are our God!’

³ But it is too late.

The people of Israel have rejected what is good,

    and now their enemies will chase after them.          NLT   Hosea 8

 

Even though Israel was living in the Promised Land, they didn’t experience salvation. The result of Israel’s sin was the judgement of the Lord, which would eventually lead to Israel being taken into exile.

 

Like the Mackinac Bridge is the only way to get to the Upper Peninsula, the Lord is the only way to experience the salvation of the Promised Land. It was true for Israel during Hosea’s time, and it’s true for us today.

 

    ^12b I said… ‘Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’    

                                                                   NLT    Hosea 10

                 

Copyright 2023 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

One Thing Only

Psalm 27

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027&version=NIV;NLT

  

Last weekend all eyes were on the world of college football in Columbus, Ohio. Saturday night the Buckeyes made their case for getting into the College Football Playoff by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Championship game.

 

The waiting began for the Buckeye nation shortly after midnight when the game was over. Through the night the committee of thirteen people diligently hashed out what schools would be in the 4-team playoff… and who would not.

 

Finally, at noon on Sunday, the 4-hour announcement program began. Four 4 more hours! Unbelievable! But about an hour into the show, after tolerating the talking heads as they blabbed on about nothing, it was finally announced.

 

The wait had been excruciating… as all waiting is. We don’t like to wait do we? We

want what we want, when we want it. We don’t like the thought of waiting for someone else to have control over some part of our life.

 

According to my NIV study Bible, “David knew from experience what it meant to wait for the Lord. He had been anointed king at age 16, but didn’t become king until age 30. During the interim, he was chased through the wilderness by King Saul. Later, he was chased by his son Absalom.” Yet David waited patiently for the Lord.

 

¹⁴ Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.          NLT

 

What gave David such confidence and contentment during these difficult times? For David, there was one thing only. For him, waiting patiently was directly proportionate to seeking the Lord and being in His presence.

 

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple… ⁶ Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me…           NIV

 

Ultimately, the Buckeyes couldn’t count on the committee. But you can always count on the Lord! He may not always give us what we want, when we want it. But He is always with you. He loves you deeply and unconditionally. He is always faithful to His word. And you can take that to the playoffs every time.

 

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http://lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Wall Drug

Isaiah 55:1-9

 

In 1931 Dorothy and Ted Hustead bought a small drug store in Wall, SD on the edge of the Badlands. Following the Great Depression, there were 326 poor people who lived in Wall. The Hustead’s worked the drug store for 5 years eking out a sparse existence.

 

Then, in the summer of 1936, everything changed.

 

It was a very, very hot afternoon when Dorothy had an idea. She thought, just maybe

all the people driving by their store on Route 16A might be thirsty, and if they offered free water, just maybe they would stop. Today, Wall Drug is a national tourist attraction with 76,000 square feet of store space; thanks to free water.

 

Isaiah wrote, “Say there! Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk—it’s all free! ² Why spend your money on food that doesn’t give you strength? Why pay for groceries that do you no good? Listen and I’ll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!”  TLB

 

For Isaiah, this is not a marketing ploy to bring customers into his store. It is an invitation to you, to me, to your co-worker, to the clerk at McDonalds, to the driver who cut you off… you get the idea. It is an open invitation for everyone to come to the Lord for our soul to be filled.

 

John wrote in Revelation to the church in Laodicea, ^16 “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”  NIV

 

It doesn’t sound like life has changed all that much since John’s days. We still find all kinds of things to take the place of what truly fulfills; what truly quenches our thirst. The Good News is that Jesus is always seeking us.

 

John also wrote to the church in Laodicea,

 ^20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”       NIV

 

"Get a soda . . .

Get a root beer . . .

Turn next corner . . .

Just as near . . .

To Highway 16 & 14. . .

Free Ice Water. . .

Wall Drug."

While reading this, you can visualize the signage as you are driving down the 2 lane highway of Route 16A.

 

 

 

What signs has God put in your life to draw you to Him? How has He used you in the lives of others as a sign to draw them to the Lord?