In this chapter, Hosea recounts the foolishness of God’s people. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “The people of Israel feed on the wind; they chase after the east wind all day long. They multiply lies and violence; they make alliances with Assyria and cut deals with the Egyptians.
Now the Lord is bringing a lawsuit against Judah. He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways. Before Jacob was born, he struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him – the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name! So now, come back to your God! Act on the principles of love and justice, and always live in confident dependence on your God. (I love this phrase…”live in confident dependence on God”.)
But no, the people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales – they love to cheat. Israel boasts, “I am rich, and I’ve gotten it all by myself! No one can say I got it by cheating! My record is spotless!” (How stupid can we be to think we are solely responsible for our success and accomplishments.)
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from your slavery in Egypt. And I will make you live in tents again, as you do each year when you celebrate the Festival of Shelters. I sent my prophets to warn you with many visions and parables.”
But Gilead is filled with sinners who worship idols. And in Gilgal, too, they sacrifice bulls; their altars are lined up like the heaps of stone along the edges of a plowed field. Jacob fled to the land of Aram and earned a wife by tending sheep. Then the Lord led Jacob’s descendants, the Israelites, out of Egypt by a prophet, who guided and protected them. But the people of Israel have bitterly provoked the Lord, so their Lord will now sentence them to death in payment for their sins. (Hosea 12) (Wow…with all of those signs and wonders performed by Moses, our people still doubted the Lord and worshiped other gods!)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for continuously trying to save us from ourselves! We are so stubborn and misguided, Lord! Help us see, worship, and recognize you as our Lord and Savior…living in confident dependence on you! Lord, we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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