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Hosea 12:7-9 False balances and contentment - Day 310

Good afternoon fellow pilgrims,

Have you used one of those scanners at Stop and Shop and had an audit.  They periodically check that users have actually scanned everything in their cart.  I usually get one when I have just a few items.  I think it is because I go once a week and have a pretty full cart and a few items is out of the norm.  Anyway, when I got done the other day and I was putting bags in the car, I looked at some of the last things and couldn't remember scanning them.  I checked the receipt and sure enough I had missed them.  Took those things back and did the right thing.  

So business is all about trust.  Does the business trust the customer not to steal and does the customer trust the business to charge a fair price.  Today's devotional has this same theme.

Blessings,

Jeff

The relationship between ethics and righteousness from two perspectives.

On one side, a merchant who uses false balances loves to oppress his customers.  There were no "truth in advertising" laws back then.  It seems that the key to deception is making it believable.  I recently heard about various snacks that have gone down in size by an ounce or two but remain at the same price.  Most consumers aren't going to notice the difference. The package is marked correctly so it meets the letter.  The key is to skim a small amount so that the customer doesn't notice.  But God notices.

Then Ephraim (representing Israel) equates rich with ethical.  He doesn't say he made his money ethically, just that no one can find proof that they were cheated.  

But in v9, God weighs in.  He is aware of their corrupt business dealings with both foreigners and their fellow Israelites.  Instead of dwelling in booths as part of a festival to commentate time in the wilderness, they are actually going back to having nothing besides the tent they dwell in.  

So why do you think a merchant would be tempted to use a false balance?  I have mentioned "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment".  I think unbelievers are essentially discontent with what they have and seek ways to get more.  As believers, we should find our contentment in Christ and not what we have or don't have.

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