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 Beth–el, 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 labours 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, their 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.
Hosea 12 offers a powerful message of repentance and a call to return to God, set against a backdrop of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and deceptive practices. The chapter highlights the futility of relying on foreign alliances and the importance of embracing love, justice, and unwavering hope in God. This chapter is particularly relevant for those who have strayed from their faith, offering a pathway back to God's grace.
The Futility of Foreign Alliances (Hosea 12:1-2)
Hosea 12:1-2 opens with a stark indictment of Israel's (often referred to as Ephraim) reliance on foreign powers. Instead of trusting in the Lord, Israel repeatedly sought alliances with nations like Egypt and Assyria, hoping for security and prosperity. "Ephraim feeds on the wind, and pursues the east wind continually; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt" (Hosea 12:1). This verse vividly portrays the nation's futile efforts, chasing after fleeting and ultimately destructive solutions. These alliances not only proved unreliable but also led to idolatry and a further departure from God.
Even Judah, while generally more faithful than Israel, was not exempt from God's scrutiny. Hosea 12:2 declares, "The Lord has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him." This verse underscores the impartiality of God's justice. No one is above accountability, and both Israel and Judah would be held responsible for their actions.
Remembering Jacob's Struggle (Hosea 12:3-6)
To emphasize the importance of seeking God's favor, Hosea draws a parallel to Jacob's wrestling with God. Hosea 12:3-4 recounts, "In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor." This reference to Jacob's encounter with God highlights the power of perseverance and humility in seeking divine blessing. Jacob's struggle symbolizes the need for a persistent and heartfelt pursuit of God's grace.
The passage then transitions to a direct exhortation: "Return to your God. Maintain love and justice, and always put your hope in God" (Hosea 12:6). This verse encapsulates the essence of true repentance. It calls for a turning away from idols and self-reliance and a turning toward God, characterized by acts of love and justice. This principle applies to all believers who have strayed from God's path. He stands ready to receive those who make God’s agenda of love and justice their own.
Deceitful Practices and Impending Judgment (Hosea 12:7-14)
In stark contrast to the call for love and justice, Hosea exposes Israel's pervasive dishonesty and corruption. Hosea 12:7-8 describes their use of "dishonest scales," manipulating weights to gain unfair profits. "A merchant, in whose hand are false balances, he loves to oppress. Ephraim has said, 'Surely I have become rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me any iniquity that is sin.'" This passage reveals not only their deceptive practices but also their arrogance, believing they could escape God's judgment.
Hosea 12:9 reminds them that it was God who brought them out of Egypt. Hosea 12:10 emphasizes that God spoke through the prophets and gave them visions. Despite these reminders of God's faithfulness and warnings, Israel persisted in their sinful ways. Therefore, God would punish them for their crimes. Their pagan altars at Gilead and Gilgal would be turned into piles of rocks (Hosea 12:11). The Lord would repay Ephraim for his contempt (Hosea 12:14).
The Enduring Message of Hosea 12
Hosea 12 serves as a potent reminder of the consequences of unfaithfulness and the importance of returning to God. It underscores the futility of relying on worldly solutions and the necessity of embracing love, justice, and unwavering hope in God. The chapter encourages believers to examine their own lives, identify areas of deception and idolatry, and turn back to God with humility and sincerity. By embracing God's agenda of love and justice, we can experience his grace and blessing.
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 Beth–el, 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 labours 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, their 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.
Hosea 12 offers a powerful message of repentance and a call to return to God, set against a backdrop of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and deceptive practices. The chapter highlights the futility of relying on foreign alliances and the importance of embracing love, justice, and unwavering hope in God. This chapter is particularly relevant for those who have strayed from their faith, offering a pathway back to God's grace.
The Futility of Foreign Alliances (Hosea 12:1-2)
Hosea 12:1-2 opens with a stark indictment of Israel's (often referred to as Ephraim) reliance on foreign powers. Instead of trusting in the Lord, Israel repeatedly sought alliances with nations like Egypt and Assyria, hoping for security and prosperity. "Ephraim feeds on the wind, and pursues the east wind continually; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt" (Hosea 12:1). This verse vividly portrays the nation's futile efforts, chasing after fleeting and ultimately destructive solutions. These alliances not only proved unreliable but also led to idolatry and a further departure from God.
Even Judah, while generally more faithful than Israel, was not exempt from God's scrutiny. Hosea 12:2 declares, "The Lord has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him." This verse underscores the impartiality of God's justice. No one is above accountability, and both Israel and Judah would be held responsible for their actions.
Remembering Jacob's Struggle (Hosea 12:3-6)
To emphasize the importance of seeking God's favor, Hosea draws a parallel to Jacob's wrestling with God. Hosea 12:3-4 recounts, "In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor." This reference to Jacob's encounter with God highlights the power of perseverance and humility in seeking divine blessing. Jacob's struggle symbolizes the need for a persistent and heartfelt pursuit of God's grace.
The passage then transitions to a direct exhortation: "Return to your God. Maintain love and justice, and always put your hope in God" (Hosea 12:6). This verse encapsulates the essence of true repentance. It calls for a turning away from idols and self-reliance and a turning toward God, characterized by acts of love and justice. This principle applies to all believers who have strayed from God's path. He stands ready to receive those who make God’s agenda of love and justice their own.
Deceitful Practices and Impending Judgment (Hosea 12:7-14)
In stark contrast to the call for love and justice, Hosea exposes Israel's pervasive dishonesty and corruption. Hosea 12:7-8 describes their use of "dishonest scales," manipulating weights to gain unfair profits. "A merchant, in whose hand are false balances, he loves to oppress. Ephraim has said, 'Surely I have become rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me any iniquity that is sin.'" This passage reveals not only their deceptive practices but also their arrogance, believing they could escape God's judgment.
Hosea 12:9 reminds them that it was God who brought them out of Egypt. Hosea 12:10 emphasizes that God spoke through the prophets and gave them visions. Despite these reminders of God's faithfulness and warnings, Israel persisted in their sinful ways. Therefore, God would punish them for their crimes. Their pagan altars at Gilead and Gilgal would be turned into piles of rocks (Hosea 12:11). The Lord would repay Ephraim for his contempt (Hosea 12:14).
The Enduring Message of Hosea 12
Hosea 12 serves as a potent reminder of the consequences of unfaithfulness and the importance of returning to God. It underscores the futility of relying on worldly solutions and the necessity of embracing love, justice, and unwavering hope in God. The chapter encourages believers to examine their own lives, identify areas of deception and idolatry, and turn back to God with humility and sincerity. By embracing God's agenda of love and justice, we can experience his grace and blessing.