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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson22,Chapters12and13
WeleftoffatHosea12:10lasttime(or12:9dependingonyourBibleversion),
whenGodwascallingtoremembrancejustwhoHewasandwhatHisrelationship
waswithIsrael.ThiswasclearlynecessarybecauseEphraim/Israel’sworship
hadbecomesoconfusedandpervertedoverthecenturiesaftertheerawhen
DavidandSolomonhadruledoveraunitedIsraelitekingdom;akingdomthat
eventuallyfracturedintotwosoonafterSolomon’sdeath:Ephraim(theNorthern
Kingdom)andJudah(theSouthernKingdom).
EphraimhadcometolookmuchmorelikeCanaanthantheIsraelthatfledEgypt.
Theyhad,atleastbythe9
th
century,incorporatedBaalintotheirworship
althoughtheymaintainedasupposedloyaltytoYehoveh.Bythe8
th
centurythey
hadalsoaddedcalfworship,withthecalvesofgoldbeingmoldedattheorderof
KingJeroboamtosupposedlyrepresentYehoveh.Ephraimhadevengonesofar
astoregularlyconsultwithandworshipanangelcalledBethelortheAngelof
Bethel.Inverse10GodismakingitclearthatnoneofthesewereIsrael’sGod…
onlytheGodwhosenameisYehovehisIsrael’sGod.Wewoulddowellto
rememberthatstillatthispointinhistory,IsraeldidnotbelievethatYehoveh
wastheonlygod.Rather,forthem,Yehovehwasoneofmany,whichiswhythe
nameofagodissoimportant,anditwasnodifferentforIsraelthenorfor
moderndayChristiansandJewsaswell.Justlikeforhumansanameisan
identity,andanidentitydefinesabeing’sattributes.Asanaside:neverfallfor
therathercommonmantrawithinmuchofChristianitytodaythatAllahofIslam
andYehovehoftheBiblearethesamegodjustwithdifferentnames.Thatisa
dangerousandblasphemousfalsehoodthatisrepeatedagainandagain.Allahis
theNAMEoftheGodofIslam,andthisgod’snameandidentityistotallydifferent
thantheGodoftheBible.Theirchosenpeopleareevendifferent.Thegodof
Islam’schosenpeopledescendfromAbraham’ssonIshmael(whowasrejected
byYehovehandbanishedfromAbraham’sfamily)whiletheGodofBible’schosen
peopledescendfromAbraham’ssonIsaac.
WhenmanycenturiesearlierIsraelmadeacovenantwithYehovehonMt.Sinai
thatHewouldbetheirGodandtheywouldbeHispeople,itwasunderthe
HebrewmindsetthatHebecametheirnationalgodeventhoughallothernations

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alsohadtheirowngods.Thisiswhyinthe10Commandments(the10Words)
thefirstandsecondcommandmentsdealwiththisrealityastheconditionforthe
covenantwithIsraeltoexist.Asanote,itisinterestingthattheChristianversion
ofthe10Commandmentsskipsoverthefirstbiblicalcommandment,making
whatisactuallythesecondcommandmentthefirst.Hereistheentiretyofthose
firsttwocommandments:
CJB
Exodus20:1-6ThenGodsaidallthesewords:
2
"IamADONAIyourGod,
whobroughtyououtofthelandofEgypt,outoftheabodeofslavery.
3
"Youare
tohavenoothergodsbeforeme.
4
Youarenottomakeforyourselvesacarved
imageoranykindofrepresentationofanythinginheavenabove,ontheearth
beneathorinthewaterbelowtheshoreline.
5
Youarenottobowdowntothem
orservethem;forI,ADONAIyourGod,amajealousGod,punishingthechildren
forthesinsoftheparentstothethirdandfourthgenerationofthosewhohate
me,
6
butdisplayinggracetothethousandthgenerationofthosewholoveme
andobeymymitzvot.
The3
rd
verseofExodus20saysthatIsraelistohave“noothergodsbeforeme”.
Thewordusuallytranslatedas“before”isalanditmeans“before”inthesense
ofapeckingorder…ahierarchy.Aneasierandbetterwaytounderstanditwould
betousetheEnglishword“above”.Wedon’tfindanywhereinthe
commandmentsthatYehovehsaysthattherearenoothergods.Ratheritisthat
forIsraelnoneofthosegodsaretobeheldaboveHiminrankorworshippedin
anymanner,inthewayIsraelwastopracticetheirreligiousfaith.Further,since
alltheothergodsaretypicallysymbolizedbytheirworshippersbyimagesof
humansandanimalsandthuslittleidolsarecarvedtorepresentthem,God
ordersthatnosuchsymbolsaretobeusedforHimself.Nohumanandnoliving
creatureshouldeverbeusedasanimageofHim.Ephraim/Israelhadviolated
everyaspectofcommandments1and2.TheyhadrisenBaaluptobeabove(or
atleastonparwith)Yehoveh.Andlatertheirking,Jeroboam,fashionedtwo
calves(bullsactually)asrepresentationsofYehovehandproudlyannouncedto
hispeople:“hereisyourgodthatbroughtyououtofEgypt”.
YehovehwasremindingIsraelthatthecovenanttheyhadagreedtowithHim
wasanexclusiveone.AccordingtothetermsoftheCovenantofMosestheONLY
godtheywereallowedtoworshipwasHim…regardlessofwhetherIsrael

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believedthereweremanygods.Theyhadbrokenthatfundamentalcondition
longagoandafteranequallylongtimeofwarningthemtorepentandtohonor
thecovenant,Israelonlygotofftrackallthefurther.
Let’sre-readthefinalfewversesofHoseachapter12.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER12:11–end
GodaffirmssomethingthatallBelieversintheGodofIsraelandthosewhotrust
HisHolyScripturesmusttaketoheart.Whatwereadinthebooksofthe
ProphetsareindeedGodspeakingtoHispeoplethroughthoseProphetswhoare
God’sauthorizedagents.Infact,theseProphetsareanintegraland
indispensablepartofsalvationhistory;theyareatthecoreofGod’ssavingwill
andplan.Thus,itpainsmetohearagainandagainfrommodernPastorsthat
theyarereluctanttoteachtheProphetsfromthepulpit,fromboththeaspects
thattheythinktheProphetsaretoocomplex(ifnotnearlyunintelligible)toteach,
andbecausetheProphetsaretoonegative,judgmentalanddepressingintone.
MoseswascalledaProphetbecauseHehearddirectlyfromGod,andthenpassed
alongtothepeoplewhatGodtoldhim.So,thethingthatsetsProphetsapart
fromallothersisthattheyhearfromGodindirectspeechtothem.Prophetsare
sometimesevengivendivinevisionsthatconcernwhatGodisgoingtodo…
sometimesasawarningtorepent,andothertimes(likeinHosea)totellthe
peopleofIsraelwhytheyaregoingtobepunishedandthattheyhadbetterget
topreparingforwhatiscoming.
SomethingthattheancientHebrewsunderstood,whichgentileChristianityin
generaldoesnot,isthatthesewordsfromtheProphets(whichcometothem
fromGod)containactualpower.Thesepropheticwordsarethecatalysttocause
theactualizationofGod’sspeechtospringintophysical,tangiblereality.So,in
thecaseofHosea,hiswordsareincrediblydynamicastheyliterallysetinto
motionthejudgmentGodhasdecideduponandisinprocessofheapingupon
Israel.Thewordshavethesamepowerandauthoritytodayandinthefutureas
theyhadinthepastsowemustheedthemorbeartheconsequence.Wemust
listen,repentandchange,andwemustalsoprepareforwhatGodsaysissurely
comingtotheworldbecausenooneandnothingisgoingtostopit.

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Bottomline:Israelhasnoexcusetoleanuponandneitherdowe.Godhaslaidit
outforusandrecordeditinwriting.HehasrevealedHisexpectationsofus(as
Hisworshippers),justasHehastoldusthepaththathistoryisgoingtotake.But
aftertellingthisinformationtoIsraelinverse11,suddenlyHosealaunchesinto
adiatribeagainstGilgalandGilead.Theevilthatisbeingaddressedisthe
idolatrousreligiousevil…Ephraim’sreligiouscultactivity…thathasbeen
occurringatthoseplaces.Thedifficultyinmakingsenseofitisthatwhatever
exactlywashappeningthereinHosea’sday,whichapparentlywaswell-knownin
Ephraim/Israel,ismostlylosttohistory.Whatwecanknowisthatwhateverit
was,itwasdrasticallyseriousinGod’seyesasthewordchosentodescribeitis
avon…usuallytranslatedasiniquity.AvonistheHebrewwordfortheworstof
theworstsortsofevilinahierarchyofevilbehavior.SayingthatinGilgalbulls
aresacrificedmusthavetodowiththewaytheyperformedit,andwhomthey
dedicatedthebullsto,becausecertainlysacrificingbullsiscalledforintheTorah.
Ofcourse,myestimationisthatwhatisalsooffensivetoGodistheplacethey
madethesesacrifices.ProperritualsacrificeasprescribedintheLawofMoses
couldonlyoccuratoneplaceandupononealtar:theTemplealtarinJerusalem.
FurtheritcouldonlybeperformedbyLevitepriests.Therefore,bydefinition,to
sacrificeanythingtoYehovehinGilgalorGileadwasinherentlywrong.Hosea
saysthattheseunauthorizedaltarsandtemplesthatEphraim/Israelbuiltin
thoseplaces(andinotherplacesaswell,suchasatDanandatBethel)willbe
reducedtorubblebecausetheyhavenovalueandaredeeplyoffensetoGod.
TheProphetMicahspeaksofthisaswell.
CJB
Micah1:6-7
6
"SoIwillmakeShomron(Samaria)aheapinthecountryside,
aplaceforplantingvineyards;Iwillpourherstonesdownintothevalley,laying
bareherfoundations.
7
Allhercarvedimageswillbesmashedtopieces,allshe
earnedconsumedbyfire;andIwillreduceheridolstorubble.Sheamassed
themfromawhore'swages,andasawhore'swagestheywillbespentagain."
ThethingtounderstandaboutimproperworshiptoGodisthatnotonlydoesGod
notacceptit,Healsopunishesthosewhodoit.ItisagreatsinagainstHimand
Hedoesn’tlooktheotherwayeventhoughourintentwasnottodoevil.Andyet,
sincewehavetheholywrittenWordthattellsuswhatproperworshipamounts
to,ifweignoreitandgoourownway,thenisthatnotintentionalevil?Thiswas

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moreoftenthannotIsrael’ssin;fullythinkingtheywerepleasingGodbut
lookingtothewrongsourcestolearnwhatitisthatpleasesanddispleasesHim.
InthehighlyindividualisticWestofourera,Churchdoctrineshavebeencreated
ormodifiedtooftenallow(andencourage)greatlibertiestobetakeninour
worshippractices,believingthatinasenseeachpersonhastherightand
authoritytotailorworshiptoourownpersonalpreferences.WhileIdothinkthat
thereisameasureofflexibilityinhowwecanappropriatelyworshipandapply
ourfaithtothemanysituationsweencounter,therearealsofirmboundaries.
TheonlyplaceintheBible,OldandNewTestaments,wherethoseboundaries
areextensivelyandspecificallylaidoutistheTorah.Further,aswelearnin
Hosea,howweimagineGodtobe…inattributesandinsubstance…canalsobe
foundprimarilyintheTorah.WhenEphraimturnedtheircollectivebackstothe
Torah,theysubstitutedthegodtheywantedfortheGodwhois.Theygave
Yehovehanimalandhumanattributes,theyassumedtheycouldworshipmore
thanonegodprovidedtheyalsocontinuedtoworshipHim,andtheyconcluded
thattheycouldmakeimagesofHimthatsymbolizedwhattheythoughtwere
representativeofHisperson.Forallthisandmore,Yehovehwasabouttoeject
EphraimfromtheLandofPromiseandbringdownhorrificdestructionanddeath
uponthem.
HowdoyouimagineGod?Wheredidyougetyourinformationfromtoformyour
conclusions?Fromyourownimagination?MaybefromyourRabbioryourPastor?
FromChristianbooksandmovies?Fromyoursocialcircleoffriendsandfamily?
Isitfromyourlong-heldchurchorsynagoguetraditionsanddoctrines?Or,isit
fromtheHolyBible,beginningwiththeTorah?Ifyouhaven’tdrawnyourimage
ofGodthatstaysfirmlywithinthewelllaid-outboundariesoftheTorah,Ican
assureyouthatyouhavethewrongimageinmindandthiswillfullywrongimage
iswhatGodcallsidolatry.WhichmeansthatifyourejecttheTorahyoucannot
possiblyknowGod’sattributes,lawsandprinciples,andthuscannotproperly
worshipHimasHedemandstobeworshipped.Improperworshipbringson
punishment.Iknowthatmightsoundsevereorharshtosomeofyou;butthisis
theessentialcoremessageofHosea.MuchearlierinHoseawereadthis:
CJB
Hosea4:6
6
Mypeoplearedestroyedforwantofknowledge.Becauseyou
rejectedknowledge,Iwillalsorejectyouascohenforme.Becauseyouforgot
theTorahofyourGod,Iwillalsoforgetyourchildren.

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Verses13and14worktogetherasaunitinordertodrawthehistoryofIsrael
backintothesubjectmatterbyrecallingthestoryofthePatriarchJacob.First
we’retoldofJacobfleeingtoAramandthenofIsraelbeingaservantofsortsin
exchangeforawife.HereboththetermsJacobandIsraelmeanaperson…two
namesforthesameperson.ThestoryofJacobgoingnorthtofindawifeisan
oftentoldone.HegoestohisuncleLaban’shouseandspieshisdaughterRachel
(inotherwords,RachelwasJacob’scousin),andwantstomarryher.SinceJacob
ispoorandhasnothingtoofferasabrideprice,heagreestoserveLabanfor7
years(asakindofbondservant)inpayment.Herfatheragreestothe
arrangementbutinthemarriageceremonyLabansecretlyswitchesoutRachel
forheroldersisterLeah,andJacobaccidentallymarriesawifehehadn’t
bargainedfor.Laban,havingnoconscienceaboutthematter,saysthatJacob
canstillmarryRachel,butthiswillrequireanadditional7yearsofservicetohim.
ThepointandmessagethatHoseaispresentinghereissummarizedinverse14.
CJB
Hosea12:14
14
ByaprophetADONAIbroughtIsra'elupfromEgypt,andby
aprophethewasprotected.
So,thefirstpartofthisverseusesthetermIsraeltorefertothenationofIsrael,
butwhentheword“he”(meaningIsrael)isusednext(“hewasprotected”)it
pointsbacktothefounderofIsrael,thepersonofJacobhavingbeenthe
protectedone.ThisgististhatjustasJacobacquiredawifeinexchangeforbeing
aservanttoherfatherLaban,andintheso-doingJacobexpectedthatRachel’s
fatherwouldhonorthedeal,sodoesGodexpecttobetreatedwithloyalty(asa
justreward,sotospeak)forhavingrescuedIsraelfromEgyptthroughaProphet
(Moses),andusheringthemthroughtothewildernesstoaLandGodsetaside
forthem.
JamesLutherMayshasaninterestingthoughtabouttheinclusionofthelifeof
Jacobagainatthispointinthechapter.Andwhileitishisspeculation,itoffersa
likelyexplanationforthisdecisiontoonceagainbringupthePatriarchJacob.I
feelitisalwaysbesttosearchforahistoricalreasonbehindmostbiblically
reportedactionsbecausewithoutdoubttherealwaysisone.Thesedecisionsand
eventsintheBibledidn’thappenindependentlyorinavacuum;invariably

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somethingconcretewasgoingoninorderfortheseBiblecharacterstothinkand
decidetodowhattheydid.
Mayswritesthis:IntheAssyriancrisissomecirclesinthenationprobably
turnedtotheJacobtraditionwithitspromiseofthelandinperpetuityasa
theologyoflastresort.
Thatis,asIsraelwasfacedwiththedireprospectthattheyweregoingtolose
theirlandandnationtoAssyria,theybegantobelievethatitwouldn’tand
couldn’thappenbecausetheirfounder(Jacob)waspromisedthatthislandwould
alwaysbelongtoJacobandhisdescendantsduetoJacob’smerit.Israel,then,
wassort-ofdependingonJacobastheirrescuer.ButinMays’viewIsraelought
nottohaveseenthemselvesinlightoftheirPatriarchJacob,butinsteadinthe
identitythatGodgavethemintheirexodusfromEgypt.Anidentitycompletely
formedbytheMosaicCovenantandnotbyJacob.ItwasYehovehwhoperformed
Israel’srescuefromEgypt.ItwasYehovehwhokeptwatchoverIsrael.So,while
Jacob’slifewasdeterminedbyhimacquiringawife,Israel’slifewasdetermined
byaProphet(Moses).HoseaisurgingEphraim/Israeltounderstandthatwhile
theJacobtraditioniscertainlytrue,anditisawonderfulstoryoftheirbeginning
asanation,ontheotherhandtheirrealidentityandvalueliesnottherebut
ratherintheirfoundingProphet,Moses,andintheirGodYehoveh,andmost
certainlynotinthoseworthlesscultcentersofGileadandGilgal.
Unfortunately,asverse15sumsitup,thisisn’twhathappened.Instead,Israel
andtheirpoliticalandreligiousleaderswenttheirownwayandangeredYehoveh.
Notbyoneortwoactionshavetheydonethis,butrathercontinuouslyand
continuallyfordecadeafterdecade.EventuallyGodhadlittlechoicebuttolet
Ephraimwallowinhisguiltandsufferthedevastatingconsequencesheearned
forhiscollectiveself.Apunishmentwasdue,andapunishmentitwillbebecause
Ephraim/Israelforgotwhotheywere;theyshuckedofftheirGod-givenidentity
(formedbytheexodusandtheirwildernessexperience)foranotheridentityof
theirchoosing.TheyabandonedtheCovenantofMosesandtheTorahwherethis
identityandinstructionthatGodgavetothemwaslocated,andnowtheyhave
madethemselvesworthlessbecausetheyrefusedtocontinueintheirproper
God-givenidentity,whichistocarryouttheirdivinepurposeonearthandtheir
intimaterelationshipwithGodinHeaven.

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Let’smoveontochapter13.
READHOSEACHAPTER13all
InthischapterweseeIsrael’spastandpresentcombinetoforetelltheirfuture.
BecauseIsraelrefusestostopsinning,eventhoughGodhaspatientlyremained
faithful,thentheirfuturedestructionisassured.Whatistheirsin?Theyhave
violatedthefirsttwoofthe10Commandments,whichamountstocommitting
idolatry.
We’vetalkedonafewoccasionsabouttheproblemofhumansdividingtheBible
booksintochaptersandverses…somethingwhichdidn’thappenuntilaround
1000yearsago.Theproblemisthatbydoingthischapterandversenumbering
anewchaptercanappeartobeabreakintheactionfromthepreviouschapter;
oraversecanappeartonotnecessarilybeconnectedtheverseorversesbefore
it.Ithappensoftenthatthiscanconfuseus.Suchisthecasewithwhatisnearly
alwayslabeledasverse1ofchapter13.Ifonewasinclinedtomakeachapter
break,thenthisversemorebelongsasthefinalverseofchapter12thanthe
openingverseofchapter13.Essentially,thisverseisGod’sverdictinIsrael’s
trialandsoitbelongsastheconclusionofthecourtroomdramathatplaysoutin
chapter12.
ThekeytounderstandingthisverseisthatinthisrarecaseintheBookofHosea
thementionofEphraimisofEphraimasitsownindividualtribe…oneofthe10
tribesthatmadeuptheNorthernKingdom...notastheentirenationofthe
NorthernKingdom.Ephraimwasbyfarthelargestandmostinfluentialofallthe
tribes.Andthus,duringthetimewhenEphraimspokeandactedin
righteousness,theothertribespaidattentionandfollowedsuit.Ephraimwas
admiredandenviedbecausetheyweresolargeandpowerful.However,when
EphraimturnedtoBaalworship,andusedhispositionofpowerovertheother
northerntribestojoinhim,theninGod’seyesEphraimfellfromtheirsuperior
positionthatGodhadvaultedtheminto,andnowhasdied.Theyaren’tGod’s
Ephraimanylonger,sotheyaredeadtoHim.
Verse2speaksofIsrael’scontinuingsinandthensayswhatthatsinis.Itisthat
theyhavecastimagesofsilver.Thissentenceisalittletrickytountanglebutit

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isimportanttodoso.OneofseveralwaysthisversegetstranslatedintoEnglish
makesitseemthatGodisupsetovertwoseparatethings:1)Israelmakes
moltenimages,and2)theymakeidols.Infact,that’snotreallywhatissaid.
Thereisonlyoneactivitymentionedasthesin,andnottwo.InHebrewtheword
foranythingmoltenismaccekah.ThisisfollowedupwithanotherHebrewword
asabbimthatliterallymeansimages.So,itisbutonethingthatGodisupsetwith
inthisverseanditiswithamoltenimage.Thisisverifiedbywhatcomesnext
whenittheversecontinueswithlettingthosewhosacrificekissthecalves.So,
thisisspeakingofthecalfimages.Whytheinclusionoftheword“silver”when
thecalfimageshavealwaysbeengoldisamysteryexceptthatverypossibly
thereweremultiplecalfimagesandsomeweremadeofsilverandnotgold.
Itouchedonthismatterearlierinourlesson.Itisthis:beforeKingJeroboam
orderedthecalfimagestobemade,Ephraim/Israelwasalreadyworshipping
Baalalongwithalltheassociatedidols.Itseemsbythetimewereachthelater
partsofHosea’scareerthatBaalworshiphadbeenlargelysubdued,withIsrael
changingtheirfocustothecalfimages.Themindsetseemslogical.Without
doubtBaalwasadifferentgodthanYehoveh;itwasneverarguedthatBaaland
Yehovehwerethesamegod.Andso,whenJeroboamwascomingintopowerhe
seemstohaveinstitutedareligiousreformagendathatincludedputtingalidon
Baalworship.However,becausethepeopleweresousedtoandenamoredwith
worshippingimages,heallowedthatpracticetocontinuebycreatinganewand
differentimagetoworship…acalf…andthendeclaringthatitwasNOTBaal,but
ratheritwasYehovehtheGodwholedIsraeloutofEgypt.
AdmittedlysomeofthisisspeculationbecausewhatIsuggestedisn’tnecessarily
specificallycalledoutinthescripturerecord.However,earlierinHoseaBaalwas
frontandcenterandnow,manyyearslater,it’sthecalfgods.TheshiftfromBaal
idolstothecalfgodsasthechaptersfly-byinHoseaisprettyobviouswhenwe
parsetheHebrewsuchthatthewordsareproperlyandliterallytranslatedand
thenwecanseetheevolutionandunderstandthedifference.Itakethetimeto
pointthisoutbecauseJudaismandChristianityhave,overtime,alsoevolvedin
oursymbolsandiconsthinkingthattheneweroughttopleaseGodmorethan
theolder.Andyet,asIcautiontimeandagain,symbolsandiconsaredicey
thingstodealwith.Weallhaveourrationalizationswhyourpreferredonesare
OKbutothersarenot;buttheissueshouldnotbewhatwepreferbutrather

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whatGodfindsacceptableoroffensive.Generallyspeaking,wefindintheBible
thatsymbolsandiconsforGod’speopleareplayeddownandoftenadvised
againsteventhoughtheiruseisnotnecessarilyalwaysanoutrightsin.Symbols
aretreatedsomewhatliketheissueofvowmaking,which,accordingtoChrist,
canbediceyaswell,soHerecommendedratherthanvowingtodoornottodo
something,wearebetterofftosimplymakeouryes,yesandourno,no.Why
isthat?Byavoidingsymbolsandvowswecanavoidthesinsofanoffensive
symbolandbreakingavow.JustasGodexpectsustokeepavowbecauseby
definitionallvowsbyHisworshippersinvokeHimastheguarantorofthevow
(andsoitisaserioussinifwedon’tkeepavow),somesymbolscanbedeeply
offensivetoGod(butwe’reneverquitecertainwhichonesareandaren’t)soit’s
probablybettertomostlyavoidthemastheyarenotsomethingGodasksusto
useinourworshipofHim.Wehaveamodern-dayproverbthatreflectsthesame
logic:discretionisthebetterpartofvalor.
Besides,asispointedoutbythisverse,anyandeverysymbolismerelythework
ofahumancraftsman.Howcouldhumanhandspossiblycreatesomethingofa
materialnaturethatGodwelcomesorneedsorisinsomewayrepresentativeof
Him?AsfarasGodisconcerned(asthefinalwordsofverse2makeclear),
despiteanyinsistencefromthepeoplethattheydonotthinkthecalfimagines
areactuallyGod,butonlyrepresentativeofHim,Heneverthelessseestheir
sacrificesbeforethesecalfimagesassacrificestotheimagesandnottoHim.
Verse3introducesthepunishmentthatiscommensuratetoIsrael’ssin,asitis
spelledoutintheCovenantofMoses.ThepunishmentisthatIsraelisgoingto
disappear…thatis,theywillceasebeingarecognizedset-apartpeopleintheir
ownnation.Fourdifferentfiguresofspeechareusedtogetthemessageacross
astothenatureofwhatisgoingtohappentoIsrael.Theywillbelike1)a
morningcloud,2)likedewthatformsearlyintheday,3)likethechaffthatis
drivenawayfromthethreshingfloor,and4)likesmokethatcomesfroma
chimney.Ineachcasetheitemisthereforawhilebutvanishesasquicklyasit
appeared.Allevidenceoftheexistenceofamorningcloud,theearlydew,the
chaffandthesmokearegone.Thedisappearanceistotal;thereisnothingleft.
ThatisEphraim/Israel’sdestiny.

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Weshouldnoticethatatverse4thenarrativechangesfromHoseaspeaking,to
Godspeakinganoracle.Hebeginswithsomethingthatisbeinghammeredaway
atforthelastmanyversesinHosea’sprophecy:Hisidentity.“IamYehovehyour
God,fromthelandofEgypt”.ThisisrealityisgenerallyobscuredinEnglish
BiblesbecauseinvariablytheydoNOTsay“Yehoveh”theysay“Lord”.Thepoint
isnotthatGodisGod;thepointisthatIsrael’sGodisnamedYehoveh;so,Israel
goingtoanygodbyanyothernameistogotoagodthatisn’ttheirGod.Andto
furtherconnectHimselftotheexodusandtotheCovenantofMosesHesaysHe
istheGodfromthelandofEgypt.
YehovehremindsIsraelofthe10Commandmentsbysayingthattheyweretold
thattheywereto“know”nootherGodbutHim.To“know”meanstohavea
relationshipofallegianceanddependence.HewastobetheirexclusiveGod.And
sinceHeistheironlyGodthentherecanbenootherhelper,deliverer,or
redeemerforthem.Thisextendstoverse5,whichisessentiallyanexampleof
whenHesavedandrescuedIsrael.Hewaswiththeminthewildernessand
watchedoverthem.WhenGodsays“Iknewyou”,to“know”hasmoreorlessthe
samemeaningImentionedamomentago;GodissayingthatHewasdevoted
andinrelationshipwithIsraelbecauseamutualdevotionandrelationshipisthe
pointofthecovenantHemadewiththem.Infact,GodcaredforIsraelina
miraculouswaybecauseinthewildernesstheywereinalandofdroughtwhere
therewasnowater,oritwasscarce.Whenwerecallthatthenumberof
Israelitesmarchingthroughthatdesertwasprobablyaround3million,thenthe
ideaofprovidingwaterinahot,barrendesertforallthosepeopleandtheirherds
andflockswassomethingthatonlyaGodofimmensepowercoulddo.
Astheoraclecontinuesinverse6,GodsaysthatdespiteprovidingIsraelwith
waterwheretherewasnone,andprovidingthemenormousquantitiesoffoodas
well,thatwhenHegavethemsuchanabundanceoffoodandtheywereno
longerhungry,theybecameself-satisfied.Theirself-satisfactionledtopride;
andtheirprideledtoIsraelforgettingYehoveh.Itisalltoocommonamong
humanstobegratefulandthankfulwhenweareindireneedandsomehow
provisionismadeforus;butlateraswe’refull,oroutofdanger,orhealedand
nolongeringreatneed,wegobacktoouroldwaysandforgettheoneswho
helpedus.I’veseenitcountlesstimesamongBelievers…andamsorrytosay
I’vedoneitmyself…thatintimesoftroublewepleadforGod’shelpandrescue,

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andinHislimitlessmercyHehelpsus,butonceourfeetarebackontheground
andthewindhasagainfilledoursails,weloseinterest.Whoeverhelpedus(in
Israel’scaseitwasYehoveh)haseffectivelyfulfilledtheirpurposeandisno
longerneeded.IthinkthisiswhatGodissayingaboutIsrael’sattitudetowards
Him.
Butnowinverses7and8GodsaysHeisgoingtoactsinsuchafuriousway
towardsIsraelfortheirincorrigiblyunfaithfulbehaviorsthatevenincluded
thankingBaalforwhatGodhadprovidedtothem,Heusesvividmetaphorsof
wildandfiercepredatorsattackingtheirprey.Godwasnotmerelygoingtolift
HishandofprotectionoverIsrael,Hewasgoingtoset-uponIsraeltoharmthem.
InawayHegoesfrombeingIsraelprotectorandSaviortotheirworstenemy.
AndwhiletheattackuponIsraelwillnotbesupernatural,butratherthe
instrumentoftheirterrorwillbeAssyria,theattackwillbedeliberate.God
doesn’ttellIsraelexactlywhenthiswillhappen;ratheritislikenedtoalion
layinginwaitforanunsuspectingpreytofallintohistrap.FurthertheLionand
theLeopardusuallycarrytheirpreyofftodevourthematatimeandplaceof
theirleisure,extendingthesufferingallthemore.Thefuriousandvengeful
attackofafemalebearwhohaslosthercubsisalsousedtodescribeGod’srage.
Bearswillriptheirvictimstoshredswithsuchpowerandferocitythatnothing
canstopthem,andwhentherevengeiscompletethesceneisgruesometo
behold.TheLion,LeopardandBearareatthetopofthefoodchain;theyare
thealphapredators.Nothingthreatensthemandsonothingstopsthem.
Inverse9Godisblunt:Israel,thisisyourfault;youbroughtthisupon
yourselves.TheproblemisthatIsrael’sonlyhelper,Yehoveh,istheonewhois
doingtheattackinganddestroying.Therefore,thereisnopossibilityofrescueor
salvation.IsraelhasruntoEgypt,thentoAssyria,thenbacktoEgyptandagain
toAssyrialookingfordeliverance.Completelyblindtotheirpredicament,andthe
causeofit,nodoubttheyhavealsopledwithYehoveh,withtheattitudethatany
Saviorwilldo.WhatGodisdoingiscarryingoutacovenantcurseuponIsraelfor
theiratrocity.
CJB
Deuteronomy32:36-42
36
"Yes,ADONAIwilljudgehispeople,takingpityon
hisservants,whenheseesthattheirstrengthisgone,thatnooneisleft,slave
orfree.
37
Thenhewillask,'Wherearetheirgods,therockinwhomtheytrusted?

Lesson22-HoseaChapter12&13
13/13
38
Whoatethefatoftheirsacrificesanddrankthewineoftheirdrinkoffering?
Lethimgetupandhelpyou,lethimprotectyou!
39
SeenowthatI,yes,I,amhe;
andthereisnogodbesideme.Iputtodeath,andImakealive;Iwound,andI
heal;noonesavesanyonefrommyhand!
40
"'ForIliftupmyhandtoheavenand
swear,"AssurelyasIamaliveforever,
41
ifIsharpenmyflashingswordandset
myhandtojudgment,Iwillrendervengeancetomyfoes,repaythosewhohate
me.
42
Iwillmakemyarrowsdrunkwithblood,myswordwilldevourflesh-the
bloodoftheslainandthecaptives,fleshfromthewild-hairedheadsofthe
enemy."'
We’llstophere,finishupchapter13nexttimeandmoveintothefinal…the14
th
…
chapterofHosea.