Just like so many today, Israel of old had a hard time walking by faith and staying faithful to the Lord’s commandments. The prophet Hosea comes along and, based on his personal experience, pictures this unfaithfulness as adultery, spiritual adultery. We’ve been considering Hosea’s message the last few weeks and we have only four more chapters over which to meditate.
God called Israel out of Egypt, under the leadership of Moses (11:1). Practically from that very beginning, Israel was unfaithful to God, sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols (11:2). Yet, it was not Baal or any other idol that provided for Israel; it was Jehovah God (11:3-4).
But because of Israel’s unfaithfulness, they will go back to Egypt except now, Egypt is a metaphor for Assyria (11:5). Israel was bound and determined to go their own way, even if it meant a path to self-destruction (11:6-7). But God could not completely turn His back on those whom He loved (11:8-9). At some point, Israel will return to God and God will shower His love on them once again (11:10-11). In Hosea’s day, however, Israel was still living based on lies and deceit (11:12).
Indeed, Israel was pursuing the wind which reminds us of Solomon’s thoughts from Ecclesiastes about chasing the wind (12:1). Israel was “chasing the wind” by making a treaty (“covenant”) with Assyria which would not end well for Israel (12:2). From the very beginning of Israel’s progenitor, Jacob, Israel has been wrestling with God (12:3-4). Now is the time to stop!
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Yes, God had brought Israel out of Egypt through a prophet and preserved Israel through the prophets (12:13). It is time they listened to a prophet of God! However, Israel was still provoking God to anger and would experience the “fruit” of her rebellion: bloodguilt and reproach.
Hosea’s message to Israel is relevant today: Know God by knowing His word. Trust God by trusting His word. Walk with God, closely, by walking with His word.
Paul Holland
