"These Little Ones"

Hosea 9.10d AMP

“…they became detestable and loathsome like that which they loved.”

The following subject matter is almost too horrific to print. If it were not true, then no decent person would dare to speak of this “detestable and loathsome” thing. But it is true. Many of us have the bad habit of reading ourselves into every Bible verse. We read about God’s wrath (as in Hosea, chapter 9 for example), and react with, “How can God be so heartless? The Bible is too judgmental. I want nothing to do with such an angry God.”

We don’t relate to a God like that because we’re not supposed to. This text was not intended as a rebuke against every one who reads it. Hosea wrote these words specifically to godless people in Israel over twenty-seven hundred years ago. There truly are some “detestable and loathsome” characters who deserve God’s wrath. Evil is real and there are a few really bad guys out there.

In the holiday edition of the World Vision 2007 “Gift Catalog,” subscribers were invited to purchase life-sustaining Christmas gifts for a less fortunate human being in other parts of the world. My son Robert, now a 23-year old grown man, was seven years old when he heard about this opportunity at school. He decided to buy a couple of chickens for a needy family with money that would otherwise have been spent on another toy for his December birthday. It was his choice, and I was very proud of him.

This is when I first heard about the horrors of human trafficking from this magazine. On page 27 of this World Vision catalog was story entitled “Sold. Trafficked. Abused.” The article described the plight of fourteen year old Lan from Cambodia...

“After arriving at the [World Vision] center, I felt like I was coming over the hill to heaven, because just the day before I was imprisoned in a dark room with my legs and arms tied and had nothing to eat. The center staff loved me and took care of me like their own daughter. I found it enjoyable to learn new skills at the center, especially hairdressing… [now] I want to learn more, so I can qualify to work for a big company or start my own business.”

And more from Lea’s journey…

“‘My mother sold me for $500 to the brothel owner [to buy] food,’ says Lea, who was required to serve eight to twelve ‘clients’ a day until being rescued and brought to a World Vision-supported shelter.”

It’s hard to imagine there are people so “detestable and loathsome” they would make a business of robbing little girls of their virginity by catering to those who want to satisfy their twisted idea of sexual fulfillment. I would hate to be them when they stand before Jesus on Judgment Day and He reminds them of this little Bible verse...

“And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble,

it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around

his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Jesus, Matthew 18.5-6 NASU

All of us have sinned (Romans 3.23), and apart from the mercy of a loving God, we also deserve His wrath. Jesus paid the price for our sins and secured our eternal home. All we have to do is accept Him by faith. While all sin is forgivable, the biblical authors also taught there were levels of sin. John explained, “All wrongdoing is sin”, but “there is a sin that leads to death” and “there is a sin that does not lead to death” (1st John 5.16, 17). 

I’m pretty sure robbing children of their innocence ranks near the top of the list of worst sins. The wrath of God will be difficult to avoid for the person who willfully abuses a child. 
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Note: Below are organizations and resources to help you help children, some as young as 7 years old, trapped in the illegal sex trade.

Rember Nhu http://remembernhu.org/.  This organization concentrates on prevention and is committed to meeting the physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs of at-risk children before the nightmare of the sex trade ever becomes reality. 

World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org/

International Justice Mission: http://www.ijm.org/. I was deeply moved when I heard IJM president, Gary Haugen, speak at our church. He is an attorney working with governments world-wide to abolish modern day slavery in all ugly manifestations (child sex trafficking, illegal detention and property seizure, sexual violence, etc.).

U.S. Department of State: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2004/33186.htm.