Welcome to another episode of Indigenous Faith. In today's podcast, Craig and LaDonna Smith continue down the road of their studies in the life and times of some of the Old Testament Kings of Israel and Judah. Today, they switch kingdoms and present one of the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. Hoshea comes on the scene in the 12th year of King Ahaz, who ruled wickedly over the southern Kingdom of Judah. Hoshea followed the path of wickedness of Ahaz, leading Israel into more compromise, debauchery, and pagan worship. Craig and LaDonna can only introduce Hoshea today, and will continue unpacking his life and rule in episodes to come. Needless to say, it's another sad story in the life of God's Chosen People, who could have been enjoying the blessing and favor of God if they only chose to obey His commandments and instructions. But as the Smith's are prone to say in this series, Leadership Matters! The saddest part of Hoshea's wicked reign? It ended with the demise of the Kingdom of Israel. Only the southern Kingdom of Judah survived as this remnant pressed on to provide the path for the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, to come on the scene centuries later.
Craig and LaDonna want to remind you, as a faithful listener to this podcast, to be ever vigilant to hear and obey the truths that come from the mouth and heart of God. Whenever Israel syncretized, severe judgement came upon them as promised by God when He laid out the ground rules in Deuteronomy 28 (which the Smiths will delve into more in-depth in next week's episode. So friend, join the Smiths in this painfully difficult journey into the life of this wicked king who turned the lives of the wicked kingdom he led into such disobedience, it cost them their very existence. May we learn from them, but never emulate them. It's an easy thing to do living in such a wicked environment in modern world cultures and nations. Maybe that's why the Scriptures remind us that only a few will be found faithful at the coming of the Lord. May we be included in that number, dear friend!