Tuesday, April 03 2012
Hosea 12
Verse of the Day: V6 “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”
1. Israel Failed To Wait Upon The Lord (V1-2)
V1 “Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.”
Both Ephraim (also known as Israel or Jacob) and Judah failed to wait continually upon the Lord to deliver them out of the attacks of Assyria, Egypt and all their enemies, but instead they compromised with them. Hence the Almighty God pronounced severe judgment and punishment upon them as their efforts of compromising with their enemies were like chasing after the east wind which would come to nothing and were all in vain.
V2 “The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.”
2. Israel Failed To Wait In The Womb (V3-6)
V3 “He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:”
Even when Israel was in the womb he was already fighting with his brother to be the first one out of their mother’s womb. Jacob was so competitive that he even fought with God thinking that he had the power to overcome God. In the end God injured and humbled him and made him realised that he could never win God but to wait continually upon Him.
V6 “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”
3. Israel Failed To Wait And Give Thanks (V7-14)
V13 “And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.”
Time and again the people of Israel failed to wait continually upon God’s leadership and direction and to give thanks to Him for all that He had done for them. When the Almighty God sent His prophet to deliver them out of their bondage under the mighty Egyptians, they were unthankful and ungrateful to Him, and instead rebelled against Him. Hence God severely judged and punished them for their ingratitude and rebellion against Him.
V14 “Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to wait continually upon You.
