Israel is Doomed
November 29, 2022
Commentary
Knowing that life is filled with choices, we must, as Jacob of old, wait upon the Lord (Gen. 49:18). Jacob’s descendants likewise had to make choices, but they chose to go against God and His love:
1. Choosing dissipation rather than exaltation (vv. 1-3). Israel’s sin increased like an unchecked infection. At one time everyone listened to God and respected Him (v. 1). Then something happened and under Ahab they gave themselves to the worship of Baal and the result of this infectious increase in sin was complete dissipation of the nation.
2. Choosing destruction rather than salvation (vv. 4-8). Understanding the knowledge of God would have permitted Israel to make the right choices, but she forgot that the Lord was her Savior and followed destruction.
3. Choosing the desire of a human king rather than the King of kings (vv. 9-11). Prompted by a desire to be like other nations, Israel asked God for a human king, a request God in His righteous anger granted (Saul) but because of rebellion was removed. (I Sam. 15:22-23).
4. Choosing death rather than life (vv. 12-16). The Lord reminds Israel that restoration, not retribution is the goal of His sovereign plan. Like a ray of sunlight penetrating through a sky filled with storm clouds God offers afresh His promise to redeem Israel from the realm of death into which she was falling. Hosea warns that although Israel is flourishing Assyria will sweep down upon the land and cause it to become dry and barren (vv. 15-16).
Application
An abundance of possessions made Israel feel self-sufficient and as a result they chose to turn their back on God. This feeling of self-sufficiency can also bring me to destruction. I must choose to rely on God in both good times and in bad times. It is so easy to want to have my way in the many choices of life rather than wanting to go God’s way whether it is easy or hard.
Hosea 13:1– 16 (NET)
1 When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.
2 Even now they persist in sin! They make metal images for themselves, idols that they skillfully fashion from their own silver; all of them are nothing but the work of craftsmen. There is a saying about them: āThose who sacrifice to the calf idol are calf kissers!ā
3 Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor, like smoke that disappears through an open window.
4 But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me. Except for me there is no Savior.
5 I cared for you in the wilderness, in the dry desert where no water was.
6 When they were fed, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; as a result, they forgot me!
7 So I will pounce on them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8 I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubsā I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lionā like a wild animal would tear them apart.
9 I will destroy you, O Israel! Who is there to help you?
10 Where then is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers for whom you asked, saying, āGive me a king and princesā?
11 I granted you a king in my anger, and I will take him away in my wrath!
12 The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed; his punishment is being stored up for the future.
13 The labor pains of a woman will overtake him, but the baby will lack wisdom; when the time arrives, he will not come out of the womb!
14 Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not! O Death, bring on your plagues! O Sheol, bring on your destruction! My eyes will not show any compassion!
15 Even though he flourishes like a reed plant, a scorching east wind will come, a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert. As a result, his spring will dry up; his well will become dry. That wind will spoil all his delightful foods in the containers in his storehouse.
16 (14:1) Samaria will be held guilty, because she rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their infants will be dashed to the groundā their pregnant women will be ripped open.
Illustration: Ireland’s President Threw His Pipe Away on His Way to Prison
Eamon De Valera was an Irish statesman who served three times as prime minister of Ireland and subsequently as her president. After the Easter rebellion of 1916, De Valera was sentenced to penal servitude. While traveling to prison, he took out his pipe and was about to light it when he stopped suddenly and said, Ć¢ā¬ÅI will not let them deprive me of this pleasure in jail!” He immediately threw away the pipe and from that day on he never smoked again. (Today in the Word, June 18, 1995)