Today are the final chapters of Hosea. So far we have seen God as a passionate husband who goes after His wife (us). Today He has presented himself to us like a father. I believe, most of us will be able to relate to this father, who pursues His son and gives hope if he returns back to this gracious father.
Jacob’s story – we know that he was a man who was not going to give up on anything. He had a fire in the belly. He pursued everything with passion, even God. He was always two steps ahead. Isaac was easily fooled for food and lavishness. Jacob He was untrustworthy, selfish. In today’s scripture we will look at how the Nation of Israel reminds God of Jacob.
God loves pictures, he speaks to us in pictures.One of His way of presenting information to us. Broken heart of God portrayed as a spouse betraying his beloved. In today’s scripture portion God draws a picture of a son and a father. A wandering son and a loving father.
Hosea 11: 1 – 4
“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me.[a]
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.
Hosea 10: 10 -11
They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.11 They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.
God compares Israel with Jacob. But obvious he is their forefather. He reminds them the sequence of events and how Jacob turned back to God.
To be more clear, let’s look at Jacob’s story, which God is intending to remind us.
JACOB
From the time of his birth until his wrestling encounter with God (Genesis 32:24-29, Jacob was associated with trickery and deception.
Jacob’s most notorious acts of trickery were committed against his twin brother Esau. Jacob offered his “famished” brother bowl of soup in exchange for his birthright as the firstborn son, which was a double portion of his father Isaac’s inheritance (Genesis 25:29-34). Moreover, Jacob robbed Esau of their father’s blessing (Genesis 27:1-29, Genesis 27:35), which had been the Esau’s right to receive.
Jacob also deceived his uncle Laban. In return for 20 years of service, Jacob tricked Laban into giving him his desired choice of wages – speckled and spotted sheep and goats – by stripping back the branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and placing them at the watering troughs where the strongest animals came to drink and mate (Genesis 30:25-43)
In the next few chapters of Hosea, God portrays himself as a father and Israel as His son.
chapter 11 -14
a fathers love and son . Story of Jacob.
What is God is saying to us through this book? You remind me of Jacob. Are we seeking an encounter like Jacob with God? Are we as passionate to seek God, to wrestle with God.
Will you respond, and seek me? will you return to me?
Israel like son in the house who can’t be trusted.God paints a picture again of Sons who are asking other’s fathers for help. It’s futile like chasing after the breeze. God is the only one who can satisfy our needs.
Beginning with God’s accusation – 12:2
Hosea 12:2: “The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.”
cheated – you are held accountable
vs3 – vs6
In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;
as a man he struggled with God.
4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel
and talked with him there—
5 the Lord God Almighty,
the Lord is his name!
6 But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always.
vs 7 God compared Israel wit Jacob.
just as much a deceiver. Arrogant, deceiving themselves use dishonest scales.
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales
and loves to defraud.
8 Ephraim boasts,
“I am very rich; I have become wealthy.
With all my wealth they will not find in me
any iniquity or sin.”
It’s a warning in vs 8 against inflated self, the money in our bank account, riches has blinded you of iniquities of sin. There’s a danger to be inflated by self. Our cultures tell us too that it’s fine to be inflated if we have the riches. God warns them on comparison. The Rich man and lazarus in the bible helps us understand that if we are dependent on our riches we’ll end up away and disconnected from God. We need to beware of having an inflated opinion of ourselves. God gives his opinion of Israel here.
Israel is like the son receiving the scolding –
You were meant to be the light of the nations. They were meant to lead. You have become just like them. God wants to reverse the exodus. God holds them guilty ch13 vs1 – vs3 When Ephraim spoke, people trembled;
he was exalted in Israel.
But he became guilty of Baal worship and died.
2 Now they sin more and more;
they make idols for themselves from their silver,
cleverly fashioned images,
all of them the work of craftsmen.
It is said of these people,
“They offer human sacrifices!
They kiss[a] calf-idols!”
3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears,
like chaff swirling from a threshing floor,
like smoke escaping through .
God says, you are no longer my son. you are dead to me. Israel like a stubborn son has not changed at all. Time is running out.
It is no more metaphors now. He is speaking as it is.
13: 1
You died to me, you are dead to me. Jacob is dead to Esau with what he has done to him. Jacob knew he was not safe and he flees
12: 11 Judgement begins –
Jacobs sent to wander. Jacob is on the receiving end. Ends up in slavery and exile. People of Israel are setting themselves up for the same. God says Israel – no body can help you as your sins are on account. You chose other gods when you could have chosen me.
THE RETURN OF JACOB TO GOD
When Jacob was returning home to Canaan with his family after his many years of service under Laban, Jacob received the news that his brother, who had threatened to kill him for his past trickery, was on his way to meet him (Genesis 32:6).
Despite sending gifts of appeasement, Jacob was afraid for his life and family. He prayed to God for help and sent his family and possessions on ahead of him to protect them. Left alone in his camp, God came and wrestled with Jacob until daybreak (Genesis 32:24-29).
Jacob’s struggle with God is symbolic of his struggle with his inner self. God wanted to enter into a relationship with Jacob, however, he couldn’t do so until Jacob admitted his weakness of self-reliance, deceit, and trickery. When Jacob refused to surrender to God, a mere divine touch on Jacob’s hip forced the young man to surrender and admit his utter need for God (Genesis 25-26).
He is coming one last time to Israel – he speaks to them. We do not realise the position we are in. We will be gone one day. We will have to face our heavenly father.
13 vs 14. I have been so miserable but yet God says I will deliver. —Great gospel hope. our greatest hope.
“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave;
I will redeem them from death.
Where, O death, are your plagues?
Where, O grave, is your destruction?
You are dead to me like Jacob, but Jacob returned to me, you must return to me. Jacob feels the call to return to God. He packs the bag. He stops, he remembers what he did to his brother. He is looking at his own. Business with God, seeks an encounter with God. Jacob wrestling with God. I need your blessing. I will not let you go . God pleads that Israel will do the same.
vs 2 to 3 – gives them the prayer of repentance.
Take words with you
and return to the Lord.
Say to him:
“Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.[b]
3 Assyria cannot save us;
we will not mount warhorses.
We will never again say ‘Our gods’
to what our own hands have made,
for in you the fatherless find compassion.”
vs 4 I will heal their waywardness.
He redirects his righteous anger from us and redirects it to Jesus.
14: 4 – 7
4 “I will heal their waywardness
and love them freely,
for my anger has turned away from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily.
Like a cedar of Lebanon
he will send down his roots;
6 his young shoots will grow.
His splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
7 People will dwell again in his shade;
they will flourish like the grain,
they will blossom like the vine—
Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Hosea 13:14
14 “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave;
I will redeem them from death.
Where, O death, are your plagues?
Where, O grave, is your destruction?
Similar Story of paul when he becomes Paul from Saul 1Cor 15 vs 55
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[a]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
– Paul echoes Hosea. In a faith crisis He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. One day I will be with Jesus. Jesus met sin at the cross, he met death at the cross, he met the devil at the cross. He wrestled our enemies to the ground so that we may be free. Jacob entered the promised land. We will flourish in the end through Jesus Christ.
vs 9 Plea for wisdom. the ways of the righteous. Will you be a fool or will you be wise. Will you turn from your sin.
I will heal you if you turn from you waywardness.
The father is calling, am I listening!
Sandra wife of Virjil .The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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