God is Sufficient

“O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?

It is I who answer and look after you.

I am like an evergreen cypress;

from me comes your fruit.” - Hosea 14:8

Among the most important truths for the church for all time is that God is sufficient. He is sufficient in the day of prosperity and in the day of trouble. In the day of Judah’s trouble, they sought refuge in other nations—in military might—instead of the Lord of Hosts. They lost sight of Yahweh’s sufficiency—or maybe they never him to be so. But despite their unbelief, the Lord continues to describe himself as the only one that they need when things go sideways.

At the end of Hosea, the Lord describes himself as an “evergreen Cyprus.” Literally, a green fir tree. Fir trees are “evergreen,” in that they retain their foliage year-round. Though the seed-bearing cones eventually dry up and fall from the tree, the needles never do. In the dead of a Robert Frost New England winter, every shade of green bursts forth from the otherwise lifeless tree lines. This image of a green, vibrant tree, set against the otherwise lifeless winter landscape drives the point home that however mighty is the oak or the maple—however promising other refuges may seem to be, in the end, only God can give us life, shelter, and salvation in the day of trouble.
We often pay lip service to God’s sufficiency in the day of prosperity, but when it comes down to it, somehow we aren’t able to endure in patient trust. That’s why so many of us are scrambling at the first sign of trouble. We look at all of our options, yet neglect to see God with the eyes of faith. We need to hear God’s voice saying to us, “From me comes your fruit.” We need to take God at his Word. He is a God for all seasons, who promises to supply all that we need. Will you reaffirm his sufficiency today? And will you dare to patiently trust him in your day of trouble?