The land mourns

 Hosea 4:2-3

You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another. 3.  That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea are disappearing.

We do not normally consider what effect, if any, our way of living has on the land itself. Hosea is telling us plainly that sinful lifestyles have a great negative impact on our environment. He names broken vows (which would include divorces; unethical breaking of business agreements; broken promises), he names murder and violence, he names stealing, and adultery. These are all transgressions that were not exclusive to Hosea’s time - we are seeing the same happening around us in ever increasing numbers.

In verse 1 Hosea lists the causes leading to this sorry state of affairs. There is no faithfulness, love, pity, and mercy anymore. And these have all disappeared because there is no more knowledge of God from personal experience with Him, in the land. As we continue reading, we encounter the often-quoted verse 6, where God states that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. He is not referring to religious knowledge about Him here, He is talking about a personal knowledge of Him, gained through pursuing an intimate relationship with Him. In fact, He says very clearly in Hosea 6:6 that He desires and delights in steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and in the acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings - in other words, He looks more to the heart that is turned towards Him than to that person’s formal religious practices.

People’s rejection of God leads to His judgement over the land they live in. We see it all through the Bible, from Genesis recounting how Adam and Eve now had to live on a cursed earth, all the way up to the final judgement of God when earth is completely destroyed, as written of in Revelation. We certainly also see the consequences of dishonouring God which Hosea spoke about, in our own neighbourhoods, cities, provinces, and countries as we witness the land mourning under droughts and other extreme adverse weather conditions. Sea creatures like certain populations of whales, dolphins, seals, turtles, and many fish are critically endangered. Land animals like rhinos, leopards, gorillas, asian elephants and even small creatures like frogs and bees are disappearing.

Points to ponder:

How do we stem the tide? One way is that we, as Christians, need to occupy our land! It starts with you and your family claiming your property for God, then joining other intercessors in moving into your neighbourhood, your city, your province, your country. Anoint the boundaries of your property, sealing it off under the blood of Jesus, and ask God to set His angels along the perimeter, also angelic gatekeepers at your entrances. Make sure that no sin door-openers are practised in your home. Then start moving into your neighbourhood and city with prayer walks and cover more distant areas in prayer.

The following website has good pointers on what to pray for during your walk: https://myheartscry.org/2022/06/16/how-to-pray-over-land/

Start by praying for protection both physically and spiritually. God knows your plan to pray, but the enemy does too. You may be tempted with distracting thoughts, insecurities, or anything Satan can use to dissuade you from your commitment to walk and pray. Include worship. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Whoever may own the property you walk, God is still over them. God has a plan and purpose for each parcel of land. Thank God for the land and his creation. Ask God to bless the land where your feet tread. Bless the land, the people, the animals, the foliage, the water. Any of God’s creations that actively use this land. Ask God to bless houses, businesses, churches, and institutions while passing by. Pray for residents to be good neighbours towards each other. Pray for crime to be exposed and prosecuted. Pray for divine appointments. By that, I mean I pray that God would have you at a particular spot at a specific time to meet a physical need or have a conversation with anyone He chooses. Pray for the Christians in the community to be a beacon. A guiding light to their neighbours and communities. Pray for the lost, depressed, handicapped, and penniless. Pray for children to be safe in the streets, walkways, and at play. Ask God what His heart is for that particular area.

We'll walk the land