This chapter talks about Israel and Judah’s adultery / idolatry (turning to false gods rather than their One True God), and calls them to repent / return.
” ‘And I thought, “After [Israel] has done all this she will return to me,” but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore… committing adultery with stone and tree. Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the Lord.’ ” (v7-10 abr)
Judah and Israel are analogous to adulterous women (brides), who cheat on their husband (God). He then ‘divorces’ Israel (allows them into captivity) hoping Judah will repent with their whole hearts, yet they only do this in a false / incomplete way (“in pretense”).
What we do and say matters. You might not consider yourself to be a leader, but essentially leadership is having influence on someone. Generally, we all influence at least one other person in this world, whether we realize it or not. Israel’s adultery / idolatry influenced Judah to also break their covenant with God.
I challenge us to be careful about what we say and do (how we behave) because it will have an impact / influence on others. They say a smile is contagious – the same can be said for sin or a bad attitude, or a variety of others behaviors. Let’s be careful to influence people with our Christlikeness, and not in ways that are worldly.
Father God, our Gracious and Merciful Lord, please forgive our sin and folly. Holy Spirit please guide our words and actions, aligning us with the Father’s will and teaching. Jesus please be our example of how to influence people, and to do so out of Your love and righteousness. May we honor, glorify, praise and obey You Father, with every word and action, every day of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.