(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 11:1-12) It was the Lord that delivered Israel out of Egypt, and it is the Lord that walked with, nurtured them, and fed them. 4 I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;And I bent down and fed them. This […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 10:1-15) 1 Israel is a luxuriant vine;He produces fruit for himself.The more his fruit,The more altars he made;The richer his land,The better he made the sacred pillars. Are we like Israel, producing fruit for ourselves? Are we self-sufficient, which seems like a good goal to have, but in the process of becoming self-sufficient […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 9:1-17) In today’s Scripture, Ephraim represents all of the northern kingdom of Israel. The Lord’s message is this, 1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations!For you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. Israel is not to rejoice like the nations. The nations rejoice at things of this world, […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 8:1-14) The enemy was coming against the house of the Lord because of Israel’s rebellion against God. Although they cried out, “My God, we of Israel know You!” they didn’t actually know God in an intimate covenant relationship. Israel rejected God, set up kings, appointed princes, and made idols, not by God, but […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 7:1-16) This is how today’s Scripture begins: 1 “When I would heal Israel…” These words speak of the Lord’s mercy, compassion, and grace towards the northern kingdom of Israel. They reveal the Lord’s faithfulness, His unfailing love, and His desire to remain in relationship with His chosen people. However, we continue to read: […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 6:1-11) With their mouths, and perhaps even with their hearts, Israel commits themselves to returning to the Lord. They say, “Come, let us return to the Lord.” Yes, they got it!? They know that they have done wrong, and are sorry for their unfaithfulness. They realize that it is the Lord that will […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 5:1-15) In today’s Scripture, the Lord declares that the deeds of Israel will not allow them to return to their God, but even if they did try to return, they would not find Him. The reason that they would not find Him is because He has withdrawn from them. Instead of the Lord, […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 4:1-19) In today’s Scripture, the word of the Lord continues to make a case against the northern kingdom of Israel. There is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land. The land mourns, and all of creation is decaying for lack of knowledge. We also read that the people have […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 3:1-5) 1 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” Love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Hosea 2:1-23) “The grass is always greener on the other side,” is a term we often use to describe our tendency to look at others, other places, and other situations as better than ours. For believers, it could represent constantly looking out to find a better situation in life, not realizing sometimes that where […]