Hosea 12:1-14 "Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will HE recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with GOD: yea, he had power over the ANGEL and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto HIM: he found HIM in Bethel, and there HE spake with us; even the LORD GOD of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy GOD: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy GOD continually. He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labors they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. And I that am the LORD thy GOD from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. Is there iniquity in Gilead ? surely they are vanity; they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, there altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. Ephraim provoked HIM to anger most bitterly; therefore shall HE leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his LORD return unto him."
Ephraim (or Israel) spurned the lovingkindness of the LORD and, as a result, fed on the wind (vanities) and looked to the enemies of the LORD for security and provision (v.1 pictured above). It is heartbreaking to see that GOD's people turned away from their LORD, and yet we often do the very same thing. GOD promises to meet our every need, and HE enables us to lay up treasure in Heaven that will stand for eternity if we'll trust and obey HIM alone. It is extremely tempting to profess, "I rely upon the LORD for all things" while at the same time seeking to build temporal hedges about us in an effort to counter the uncertainties of the future. Ephraim came to the point of arrogantly declaring, "I am rich" (v.8), but those riches were of no help whatsoever in the day of judgment. We must make sure that GOD is our confidence, that the WORD is our counsel, and that we are continuing along the path of uprightness.
Jacob (or Judah) had a history of having power with GOD through holy resolve and determined faith (vv.2-8). In general, Judah walked much closer to the LORD than Israel ever did. However, it was not long before Judah was guilty of the same waywardness that had alienated the northern kingdom of Israel from the LORD. Sin is sin, and backsliding is backsliding, no matter what the degree or who the offender may be. The prophet Hosea counseled Judah, "Turn thou to thy GOD: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy GOD continually" (v.6 pictured above). What priceless counsel this was for GOD's people of old and continues to be for the believer today ! The key word in verse six is "continually." If necessary, get right with the LORD and then stay that way. DWC
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
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