July 21: Hosea 8-14

July 21, Hosea 8-14

Hosea 8 Israel’s Hypocrisy. The Israelites acted like they loved God but their lives and hearts did not reflect it. They cried to God but still did their own thing. They were idolatrous, and fake. They had false gods. To borrow the old saying, they are sleeping in the beds that they have made. God is sick of it because Israel has forgotten who their Maker was and turned to the idols they have made. Punishment will ensue. 

Hosea 9 God is going to punish Israel by sending them to a foreign land where they cannot sacrifice to God even if they wanted to (not allowed). They have played the whore, forsaking God and His commandments. Israel has made numerous multiple bad choices and the days of punishment are upon them. Part of their punishment because of their disobedience for seeking Baal will be barren women or miscarriage. They were seeking Baal for their fertility help and God is going to show that He is the one who gives life. God is going to reject them because they have not listened to Him. 

Hosea 10 Abundance is a very precarious thing. Too much and you don’t need God. The Israelites (like most) cannot handle having things in abundance. God blessed them with a lot and they squandered it and used it for themselves. The more the increase, they less the obedience. They uttered promises that were nothing but empty words. Israel will be ashamed of their idolatrous ways, so much so, that they will ask the mountains to fall on them to finish the pain. Hosea implores them to stop sinning and turn back to God, but they wanted to sin. God has had enough. 

Hosea 11 In spite of their love of false gods and self, they are still God’s chosen people. God does love them, which is why the punishment is coming so that they turn from their wicked ways and submit to God. Sadly, they just kept sacrificing to Baal and giving offerings to idols - instead of Yahweh. God took personal care of His people and they rejected it. God does genuinely love His people. Israel has surrounded itself with lies and deceit. There is still some good left in Judah though. 

Hosea 12 Regardless of the good that Judah still has, they are going to be punished for their sins and be repaid for their deeds. God is the Lord who can restore them. He has saved them once He can do it again. They must remember God’s Grace. God did that through the prophets, and I believe still does. 

Hosea 13 We are looking here at man-made gods verses God. We bow to things that we make, like Israel, instead of the God who made us. How silly when you think about it. When things were good, Israel forgot about God. Their bellies were full and their needs were met - they forgot who fed them and met their needs. Let us not be like that. Israel has truly rejected God’s love for them.

Hosea 14 Hosea appeals again for the Chosen People to return to God and hear the Word of the Lord. God can take away their sins because He is merciful. Someday, Israel will return to the Lord and be under His Protection. They will one day again blossom and be solid. But, all the idols must be done with.

Those that are wise will heed Hosea’s words. 

God’s ways are right and those that love Him walk in His ways.

Those against God’s ways - they will stumble. 

To sum it all up: 

• We cannot be like the Israelites - they acted like they loved God but their lives and hearts did not reflect it. What does your lifestyle say about your love for God?
• We cannot live like hellions and expect to go to Heaven.
• We don’t mind being repaid for our deeds when they are good. It is when we have sewn bad deeds that we don’t want to be repaid…