Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
1/13
THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson21,Chapter12
AgoodwaytoframeHoseachapter12isasEphraim/Israelbeingdepictedasa
peoplewhohaveforgottenwhotheyare.Theywereset-apartasGod’scovenant
people,whichnotonlycamewiththegreatestofprivilegesbutalsowithserious
obligationsandresponsibilities.Thismemorylosshappenedasaresultof
walkingawayfromtheTorahtheyweregivenatMt.Sinai,andinitsplace
adoptingahybridreligionthatmixedBaalworshipwithYehovehworship.This
samethoughtwaswrittendownbyYeshua’sbrotherJames(Jacob,actually).
CJB
James1:22-25
22
Don'tdeceiveyourselvesbyonlyhearingwhattheWord
says,butdoit!
23
ForwhoeverhearstheWordbutdoesn'tdowhatitsaysislike
someonewholooksathisfaceinamirror,
24
wholooksathimself,goesawayand
immediatelyforgetswhathelookslike.
25
Butifapersonlookscloselyintothe
perfectTorah,whichgivesfreedom,andcontinues,becomingnotaforgetful
hearerbutadoeroftheworkitrequires,thenhewillbeblessedinwhathedoes.
Weonlydealtwiththefirstverseofchapter12lasttime,sobeforewemoveto
verse2we’llre-readthisshortchapter.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER12all
Let’sbrieflyreviewverse1.First,thewaythisverseisusuallytranslatedin
nearlyeveryBibleversionhasmajorproblems.Infact,itismyestimationthat
therathertraditionalmindsetofwhatverse1meansiswelloffthemark,even
thoughinastrict,literalword-for-wordtranslationthoseinterpretationsare
intellectuallyhonest.Aswehaveseeninearlierlessons,becauseoftheoften
crypticliteraryconstructionoftheBookofHosea,fullofarcanemetaphorsand
expressionsthatarerelevantprimarilytothe8
th
centuryB.C.,a
thought-for-thoughtapproachneedstobeemployedorwe’llfindourselves
tryingtopoundthemeaningintoaChristiandoctrinalmoldthatwasinnoway
intendedbytheauthor.Rather,verse1oughttobetakentomeansomething
alongthelinesofthis:
AndIsraelisdevotedwithrespecttoEl,andwithrespecttoangelsisloyal.
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
2/13
Thegistofthisbetterwaytounderstandverse1isthatHoseaisscoldingIsrael
fortheirpracticeofangelworship…justonemoreofseveralwaysIsrael
pervertedtheirworshipofGod.Youcangetmoredetailsaboutwhytheancient
Hebrewwordsusedinthispassagetakesusinthisdirectionbyreviewinglast
week’slesson.Intheend,Hosea’saccusationisthatIsraelveneratedanangel
thatwentbythenameEl,orBethelortheAngelofBethel,andapproachedthis
angelasthoughhewasGod.Contextuallythisthought-for-thoughtmeaningfits
wellwithwhatisspokenofbeginninginverse4whenthePatriarchJacob’slife
andhisencounterswithangelsbecomesthesubject.Theideaofthisnarrativeis
todrawastarkcontrastbetweenfaithfulJacobversusthenowseriously
back-sliddennationhespawned(Israel).Jacobencounteredangelsbutdidn’t
worshipthemasGod;infact,inoneinstance,hetriumphedoveranangeland
demandedablessingforhisvictory.However,whenJacob’sdescendantsofthe
NorthernKingdomencounteredangels,itseemsthattheyactuallyworshipped
someofthem(alsomeaningthatatleastoneoftheseangelsacceptedtheir
worship,indicatingthatthiswasadisobedientangel).Oneparticularangelthat
borethenameBethelismentionedandthisimproperworshipofangelswasjust
onemoreprohibitedthingthatIsraeldidthatprovokedYehoveh.
Inverse2Israelissaidtobepursuingthewindfromtheeast…inHebrewruach
haqqadim.InthewayofthinkingofHosea’sera,theeastwindwasaveryhot,
drywindthatwasterriblyuncomfortableandoftendestructive.Thetermruach
(wind)byitselfisusedoftenintheBibleasametaphorforfoolishnessandfolly.
So,itisinthesenseoffoolishanddestructivethatwearetounderstandtheuse
oftheterm“eastwind”.TheideathatIsraelischasingafterthiseastwindcomes
fromIsrael’sdeterminedefforttosecureanalliancewithaforeignnationtohelp
themintheiron-and-offwarswithJudah.TheyaresupposedtoseekGodfor
rescuewhenthey’reintrouble,andcertainlynotfrompagangentiles.Infact,it
wasabasicpremiseoftheMosaicCovenantthatifIsraelwouldrespondto
YehovehbyobeyingtheTorahtheninreturnYehovehwouldbetheirprotector
fromvirtuallyalldangers.Thisobediencemeantthattheywerenottoenterinto
anothercovenantthatdidn’tinvolveGod(makingacovenant…intheformofa
treaty…iswhataweakernationdoeswhenitagreestoanalliance,andthus
protection,fromastrongernation).
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
3/13
Israelwasfoolishintheirthoughtsandactionsbecausewhattheywere
attemptingwasvirtuallyimpossible.Thisimpossibilityisexpressedinthe
thoughtofchasingthewindbecausechasingthewindisanillusion.Wecan
nevertouchwind,letalonecatchit.Thispassage,therefore,paintsIsraelas
persistentlystupid.
Inthe2
nd
halfofverse2nearlyeveryEnglishBibletranslationsaysthatIsrael
madeacovenantwithAssyria,butsuchtranslationsmissthepoint.Theword
useddoesn’ttranslatetoAssyria,butrathertoAshur.Ashuristhenationalgod
ofAssyria.So,theideaisthatinYehoveh’seyesIsraelcommittedtreason
againstHimandagainstthecovenantthatHehadmadewithIsrael,infavorof
makinganewcovenantwithapagangodnamedAshur.EventhoughIsrael
wouldhavearguedotherwise,theLordsawIsraelashavingabandonedHimand
theCovenantofMosesandinsteadturningtoBaal,makingacovenantof
protectionwithhim.Thishighlightstheutterfollyofanydenominationwithin
Judeo-Christianitybelievingtheycanrewriteorre-purposeHolyScripturein
ordertocreateanewreligiousorderthatservestheirparticularmindsetor
agenda,andthenfullyexpectingthatGodnotonlyacceptsitbutapplaudsthem
forit.Ephraim/Israel(asIhaveregularlypointedout)didthisprecisething;but
itwasnottheirintentiontobecomewicked,nordidtheythinktheyhaddone
wrong.Theydeceivedthemselvesintobelievingthattheyhadthelibertyto
remaketheirancientHebrewfaith,asdefinedbytheTorah,intosomethingthat
wasmoremodernandmoresuitabletotheircurrentcircumstancesanddesires.
Everymannerofrationalizationforthisimmoralbehaviorwasoffered,nodoubt
comingfromtheirreligiouselite,andthepeople…likelemmings…followedthem
overthecliff.Thus,whilemakingthereligiousleadershipthemostculpable,God
stillsawthecommonpeopleasguiltyaswell.Thisiswhy,earlierinHosea,God
makesitclearthatIsraelhadintheirpossessionthewrittenTorahtoconsultfor
truthandrighteousness,butchoseinsteadtoembracethedoctrinesoftheir
newlyformedhybridizedreligion;so,theydecidedtoacceptwhatevertheir
leaderstoldthemwastruthandrighteousnessbecausetheyseemedtobe
benefitingfromit.Letthosewithearsnotonlyhear,butalsotakeactionto
repentandseekGodbyreturningtoHisTorahandthemorallawcodecontained
withinitevenifitmeanslosingfriendsandfamilyoveryourdecision.Christ,
Himself,saiditwouldlikelycometothisforthosewhofollowHim.
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
4/13
CJB
Luke14:25-27
25
LargecrowdsweretravelingalongwithYeshua.Turning,
hesaidtothem,
26
"Ifanyonecomestomeanddoesnothatehisfather,his
mother,hiswife,hischildren,hisbrothersandhissisters,yes,andhisownlife
besides,hecannotbemytalmid.
27
Whoeverdoesnotcarryhisown
execution-stakeandcomeaftermecannotbemytalmid.
Whenthisversespeaksofhateitcarriesanancientunderstandingthatdoesn’t
meanlikeitsoundsitmeanstomodernWesternears.Inancienttimesloveand
hatewerewrappedupinpoliticalterms,meantaswordsthatspeakofdevotion
andallegianceorthelackthereof,oftenappliedtoarelationshipbetweenaking
andhispeople.So,tolovewastobeadevotedandobedientfollowerandtohate
wastonotbedevotedandobedient.InthisNewTestamentpassageinLuke,
YeshuawassayingthatifonewantstobeaWorshipperofYehovehandadisciple
ofJesus,thenHeandHisFathermustbethefocusoftheirfirstandgreatest
devotionandloyalty.IfthisdevotiontoFatherandSonmeantlessloyalty(or
evenadissolvingofloyalty)toparentsorfamily(nodoubtbecausethenew
BelieverhasbeentoldheorshecannotbeloyaltoGodasSaviorandalsoto
them),thensobeit.
Thisleadsustoacrucialquestionweallmustface…everypersonwhois
consideringadoptingandputtingintopracticethefaithoftheBible.Arewetruly
devotedtoGodandtoHisSon?Orarewemoredevotedtoourdenomination,to
ourPastororRabbi,andtoourcongregationfriendsoreventofamilytraditions
anddemands?ArewetrulyobedienttoGod’sHolyScriptures?Orarewemore
obedienttothemanmadedoctrinesandcustomsandcelebrationsofourchosen
religiousorganization?WesternChristianitygenerallypaintsapictureoftrustin
Godasbeingeasyandnothingbutbenefitoneverylevel.ButinrealityChrist
saystocountthecostbeforeyoudecide,becausetherewillbeacost.Areyou
adheringtoafaithandachurchorsynagogueinwhichyouareaskedtosufferno
discernablecost?Thenthatmeanstheremightbeaproblem.Yeshua’scostwas
theCross.Hesaysourcostistobeessentiallythesame.
Thefinalwordsofthisversethatspeakofsendingoil(oliveoil)toEgyptismeant
assayingthatEphraim/IsraelisattemptingtowooEgyptasanallyincase
Assyriadoesn’twanttheirallegiance.Thatis,Israelwastryingtokeepits
optionsopen.Thatmightbeasoundpoliticalpolicyforanationinmostcases;
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
5/13
butnotwhenthatnation’sexistenceisbasedonacovenantbetweenthemand
God.TheGodoftheBibleisaGodofexclusivity.
Verse3isproblematicbecauseweonceagainfindmentionofJudah.Judah
simplydoesn’tfit.ThisentireprophecyisdirectedtowardsEphraim/Israel,and
nottowardsJudah,soitseemsmostlikelythatthisisaglossaddedsomeyears
laterbyaprophetinJudahwhosawhowaccurateHosea’sprophecyofIsrael
turnedouttobe,andbecameworriedashesawJudahdescendingintothesame
morassanddeceptionthatEphraimsuccumbedto.Thus,headdedthesewords
ofwarningtohisJudeanbrethren.Thereisnowaytobe100%certainaboutthis.
Eitherway,itdoesnoharm.Inthegrandschemeofthings,whatwecannotice
isthatthenameofJacobisemployedhereasasynonymforIsrael.Thename
JacobisusedinacoupleofdifferentwaysintheBible.Itcanbeusedtoreferto
thePatriarchJacobasanindividual,oritcanbeusedasanalternatenamefor
thenationofIsrael.
ThisversespeaksofacontroversyoragrievanceoradisputeGodhasagainst
Israel.TheHebrewwordusedisriv,andrivisusuallyreservedforalegal
proceeding.So,tohelpusunderstandthroughour21
st
centurylenseswhatthis
isspeakingabout,weneedtothinkofitasalawsuit.Yehovehisfiguratively
bringingalegalproceedingagainstEphraim/IsraelfortheircrimesagainstHim.
HeisputtingIsraelontrial.Godisboththeplaintiffandthejudge.
So,inverse4HoseareachesbacktolongbeforetheCovenantofMoses,before
thereeverwasanationofIsrael,andinterjectsthelifeandcareerofJacobasan
exampleoftherelationshipbetweenIsraelandGodthatHehadintended.Why
dothis?ProbablytoremindEphraimwhotheywere,sincetheyseemedtohave
forgottentheirhistory,theirreasonforexistence,andtheirpurposeinthisworld.
TodothisGodbeginswithremindingIsraelwheretheygottheirname.Thus,in
thefirsthalfofverse4Jacobisspokenofwhenhewasstillinhismother'swomb,
andinthesecondhalfofwhenhehadgrownintoanadult.Thefirsthalfhearkens
backtoastatementmadeintheTorah,inGenesis25.
CJB
Genesis25:22-26
22
Thechildrenfoughtwitheachotherinsidehersomuch
thatshesaid,"Ifit'sgoingtobelikethis,whygoonliving?"Soshewentto
inquireofADONAI,
23
whoansweredher,"Therearetwonationsinyourwomb.
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
6/13
Frombirththeywillbetworivalpeoples.Oneofthesepeopleswillbestronger
thantheother,andtheolderwillservetheyounger."
24
Whenthetimeforher
deliverycame,thereweretwinsinherwomb.
25
Thefirsttocomeoutwas
reddishandcoveredalloverwithhair,likeacoat;sotheynamedhim'Esav
[completelyformed,thatis,havinghairalready].
26
Thenhisbrotheremerged,
withhishandholding'Esav'sheel,sohewascalledYa'akov[hecatchesbythe
heel,hesupplants].Yitz'chakwassixtyyearsoldwhensheborethem.
Jacob'snameisinterestingandisactuallysomewhatofaplayonwords.AsEsau
wasemergingthroughthebirthcanal,Jacobissaidtohavereachedupand
grabbedEsau'saqeb...hisheel.Asaresult,JacobwasgiventhenameYa-acob
(aqebandaqobarespelledthesameinHebrew,onlythevocalpronunciations
aredifferent).ThisiswhysometranslatorssayJacob'snamemeansheelcatcher.
However,intimewhatitcametomeanis"hewillcheat".Eventhoughitcanbe
alittlechallengingtograspthemeaningofJacob’sname,noonewould
intentionallynametheirchild"hewillcheat".So,forJacob'sparentsthename
certainlymeantsomethingelsemorehonorable.Becausethisbirthofthetwins
JacobandEsauoccurredperhapsaround1600to1700B.C.,beforetheHebrew
languagehadfullyformedandseparatedfromtheotherSemiticlanguages,very
likelythisnamewastakenfromanearlierandmoreestablishedSemitic
language;anamethathasactuallybeenfoundwrittenonancientpotteryshards.
ItisYahkub-ilthatmeans"mayGodprotect".Inotherwords,eventhough
Jacob'sbirthnameatthetimehewasgivenitprobablymeant"mayGodprotect",
thetraditionalstoryofhisbirthandthenlaterwhathappenedbetweenheand
hisbrotherEsau,eventuallyresultedinadifferentmeaningtohisnamebeing
appliedlateronthatbestreflectedacoupleofkeyeventsinJacob'slife.As
Genesis27:36demonstrates,Jacobwasgoingtocheathisbrotherwiththe
resultbeing,onecouldsay,thatJacobwouldsupplantEsauasthefirstbornthus
receivingalltheblessingsthatcomewiththatfirstbornstatus.
CJB
Genesis27:36'Esavsaid,"Hisname,Ya'akov[hesupplants],reallysuits
him-becausehehassupplantedmethesetwotimes:hetookawaymybirthright,
andhere,nowhehastakenawaymyblessing!"Thenheasked,"Haven'tyou
savedablessingforme?"
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
7/13
Allthatsaid,nothinginHoseacallsJacobacheater.Ratheritsimplyrecallsthe
traditionofJacobgrabbingtheheelofhistwinbrotherEsauastheywerebeing
born.SowemustbecarefulnottocolorthisassomehowdisparagingJacob;
quitetheoppositeisactuallyhappening.
ThesecondkeyeventinJacob'slifethatismentionedinthe4thverseisprovided
indetailinGenesis32,anditregardshiscontactwithanangel.Beforewe
discussthispassage,let'sreadthestoryinGenesis32.
CJB
Genesis32:23-33
23
Hegotupthatnight,tookhistwowives,histwo
slave-girls,andhiselevenchildren,andfordedtheYabok.
24
Hetookthemand
sentthemacrossthestream,thensenthispossessionsacross;
25
andYa'akov
wasleftalone.Thensomemanwrestledwithhimuntildaybreak.
26
Whenhesaw
thathedidnotdefeatYa'akov,hestruckYa'akov'shipsocket,sothathishipwas
dislocatedwhilewrestlingwithhim.
27
Themansaid,"Letmego,becauseit's
daybreak."ButYa'akovreplied,"Iwon'tletyougounlessyoublessme."
28
The
manasked,"Whatisyourname?"andheanswered,"Ya'akov."
29
Thentheman
said,"Fromnowon,youwillnolongerbecalledYa'akov,butIsra'el;becauseyou
haveshownyourstrengthtobothGodandmenandhaveprevailed."
30
Ya'akov
askedhim,"Pleasetellmeyourname."Butheanswered,"Whyareyouasking
aboutmyname?"andblessedhimthere.
31
Ya'akovcalledtheplaceP'ni-El[face
ofGod],"BecauseIhaveseenGodfacetoface,yetmylifeisspared."
32
Asthe
sunroseuponhimhewentonpastP'ni-El,limpingatthehip.
33
Thisiswhy,to
thisday,thepeopleofIsra'eldonoteatthethighmusclethatpassesalongthe
hipsocket-becausethemanstruckYa'akov'shipatitssocket.
Pleasethinkbacktohowweopenedtoday'slessonaboutthebetterwayto
translatethe1stverseofHoseachapter12,ashavingtodowithangelworship.
HebrewversionsofHosea12:4willsometimessaythatJacobstrovewitha
“divinebeing”.Thatis,ratherthantranslatingtheHebrewwordelohimas"God"
(asnearlyallEnglishversionstendtodowheneverthewordappearsintheBible),
theyunderstandfromGenesis32thatitwasn'tGodinthefleshpersethatJacob
wrestledwith.WhenwereadGenesis32throughourmoderneyesitcanbe
confusingbecausetheHebrewwordusedtodescribewhoJacobwrestledwithis
ish,whichmeansamale...aman...fleshandblood.Andyet,thecontextmakes
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
8/13
nosenseifthiswasaregularhumanbeingbecauseJacobunderstoodthis"man"
tobesomethingdifferent("becauseIhaveseenGodfacetoface...").Further,
theHebrewwordsusedtodescribethisbeinginlaterpartsofthisGenesis
passageareElandelohim.TherealityisthatthewordsElandelohimareat
timessynonymoustermsthatcanatonemomentspeakofGodtheCreator(the
GodofIsrael),thenextspeakofbeingswithsuperhumanabilitiesandpower,
andanothertimeofangels.Hereiswhatwemustattempttounderstand(and
yes,itischallenging).Jacobwastryingtomakesenseofthisweirdwrestling
match;buthewasdealingwithsomethingthatwasbeyondhisexperienceandof
hisintellectualgrasp.Beyondanyknownwordsorvocabulary.So,heonlyhad
commontermsathisdisposaltotrytocommunicatewhathesaw,whatoccurred,
andwhothisbeingwas.AswelearnfromotherpartsofJacob'slife(suchas
whenhewenttoMesopotamiatofindawifeandthenlivedthereforacoupleof
decadeswithhisfather-in-law)thespiritualworldwasamysterytohimandso
hetookmanythingsheheardandsawintermsofthespiritualworldasitwas
comprehendedbymostMiddleEasternpeople,nomattertheirprecisereligionor
nationality.Itwasaspiritualworldofdemonsandangelsanddivinebeingsofall
sorts,andofmanygods.Thingswerenotsocutanddried...blackorwhite...
easilylabeled...asmodernChristianityattimestriestodefinethem...tryingto
removeasmuchmysteryaspossiblefromtheBibleinordertocreateconcrete
answers.
WemustalsotakenotethatastheOldTestamentProphetstendtodowhen
referringtoScripture,theyattimesparaphraseormerelyalludetoawell-known
pasteventbutdon'tactuallyquoteaspecificScripturepassage.Thatisthecase
hereasHoseaisn'tintendingtoquoteScripturebutratherisonlytryingto
remindIsraelof2eventsthatwereknowntothem;theirremembrancehanded
downthroughthegenerationsbymeansoftheirtraditions.SoHoseasaysthat1)
Jacobwonthebattle,and2)thatheweptashepledwiththisangel.Yet,theidea
thatJacobwonacontestwiththisdivinebeingasreportedisn’tsupportedinthe
TorahasGenesis32doesn'tspeakofawinnerandaloser;infact,thebattleonly
endedwhenthedivinebeingdislocatedJacob'ship.NordoestheGenesis
accountmakeanymentionofJacobweeping.Evenmore,inverse5ofHosea12,
Hoseaspecificallyidentifiesthisdivinebeingnotasaman,andcertainlynotas
God,norassomegenericdivinebeing,butratherasanangel(amalach).We
mustpaycloseattentiontotheinsertionofthewordmalach(angel)inthisverse
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
9/13
becauseithaseverythingtodowithHosea'scomplaintofIsraelworshippinga
specificangel,thusangeringGod.
Continuinginverse5,noticethatHoseasaysthatitwasatBethelwherelater
thisangelwould"speakwithus".Pauseforasecondandponderwhatisbeing
said.HoseawasconnectingthisangeltoJacobinJacob'sera(theoneJacob
wrestledwith),butattheendofthisversesaysthatthissameangel"spoketo
us"atBethel...thatis,thisangel...thismalach...spoketothepeopleofIsrael
duringHosea'sera.Clearly,God'sProphetHoseadidn'tthinkthisbeingJacob
wrestledandwasnowspeakingwiththepeopleofIsraelatBethelwasactually
GodHimself.NordidHoseacastthisangelasaspecialmanifestationofGod
calledTheAngeloftheLord(malachYehoveh).Andbytheway:virtuallyevery
competentEnglishandHebrewBibleversionreadsthissameway,soit'snotas
thoughtherearedifferentthoughtsonhowtointerpretthisverse.It'samatter
oftakingitforwhatitsaysratherthantryingtoapplymodernChristianthinking
toanancientHebreweventthatofitselfhaslittleclarity.IwanttoquoteGruber
becauseIthinkafterallthisthatI'vetoldyou,hegetstothebottomline.
Indeed,theprophet'spointisthattheproblemisnotthatlongagoJacobrevered
anangeloverwhohe,Jacob,hadprevailed,but(rather)thathisdescendants
stillrelyonthatsameangelandtherebycompromisetheirloyaltytotheGodof
Israel.
IthinkthisunderstandingofangelworshipbyIsraeliswellvindicatedwithwhat
issaidinthenext2verses,verses6and7.I'llreadthemtogether.
CJB
Hosea12:6-7
6
AdonaiELOHEI-Tzva'ot;ADONAIishisname!
7
Soyou,
returntoyourGod;holdfasttograceandjustice;andalwaysputyourhopein
yourGod.
TheKJVandmostotherEnglishBibletranslationssayitslightlydifferently.
KJV
Hosea12:5-6
5
EventheLORDGodofhosts;theLORDishismemorial.
6
ThereforeturnthoutothyGod:keepmercyandjudgment,andwaitonthyGod
continually.
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
10/13
Trulyanyofthesetranslationsblatantlyleaveoutwordsand/orchangewordsto
suittheirdenominationalbeliefs.Forinstance,noticehowtheword"even"
appearsatthebeginningoftheKJV.ThisistranslatingtheHebrew"wa"or"va"
andinmodernEnglishitmoremeans"but"...asin"however"."Even"isavery
old15thcenturywordthatwedon'tusetodayasitmeantthen.Butnoticeinthe
CJBtheeliminationofanywordtostartthesentencethattranslates"va".Here
isthemoreliteraltranslationofverse6.
ButasforYehoveh,theGodofHosts,YehovehisHisname.
Aswe'vealreadydiscussed,Israelhasbeenworshippinganangelthatwentby
thenameofElorBethelortheangelofBethel.Well,El,Bethelandtheangelof
BethelareNOTGod'snameandthereforecannotbeGod!God'sformalnameis
Yehoveh;that'showwecanknowwhoitis...byHisname.
CJB
Exodus6:3IappearedtoAvraham,Yitz'chakandYa'akovasElShaddai,
althoughIdidnotmakemyselfknowntothembymyname,
Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh...
Inotherwords,Israelyou'vebeenworshippingarealbeing(anangel)buthe
certainlyisnotGod,sostopit!InsteadreturntoyouractualGod,returntothe
truewaysanddefinitionsoftruthandjustice(asfoundintheTorah),andquit
puttinghopeinapowerfulangelandinsteadputyourhopeintheonlyGodthere
is...theonlyOnethatcanprotectyouandrescueyou...Yehoveh.Attheriskof
soundingoffensive(whichItrulydon'tmeantobe)I'llputthisforwardinto
modernapplication.Church,Synagogue,stopit!StopworshippingPastorsand
Rabbis,andstopputtingyourhopeinthemanmadedoctrinestheymaybelieve
andteach.Thereal,Godordaineddefinitionsofgraceandjustice(the
indispensablefoundationofourfaith)arefoundinoneplacealone:theTorah.
Youcangotoitandreaditforyourself;youdon'thavetorelyonwhatsomeone
inleadershiptellsyouitsays.Whatwehearsooftentodayfromthepulpitand
bemaastruthisnotnecessarilyGod'struthatall;butratherareflectionof
humandesiresandagendasandsocialtrendsthatareoverlayeduponGod’s
truth.
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
11/13
It'simportanttograspthatHoseaisnotsuggestingtoIsraelthatiftheyrepent
andreturntoGodthatanythingisgoingtochangeforthemintheshortterm.
Thedieiscast,theirdestructionwillnotbeslowedorreversed.Butthereisan
inherentimplicationthataremnantofIsraelwillliveon.Eventhoughindividual
Israeliteswillbeborn,andsuffertragediesanddeath,somewillsurviveand
spawnthenextgeneration.Assyriawillattack,killthousandsofIsraelites,
besiegetheircitiesandstarvemanytodeath,butsomewillremainaliveand
enduretheexile.Theirhopeliesnotinanimmediatenationalrestoration,but
ratheritliesinanEndTimesfuturewhenGodwillacttobringtheLandofIsrael
backundercontroloftheHebrews,andthescatteredtribeswillreturnhome…no
doubtinmuchdiminishednumbers.Ithinkwhatoughttobeseenisthatitisthe
modern-dayHebrewswhooughttobeoverjoyedthatsuchaprophesiedtime
seemstohavefinallycome.Andifitishappening(asitappearstobe)thenit
alsomeansthatwehavecrossedthehorizonintotheEndTimes.
Verses8and9oughtnottobeseparateversesatallbecausetheyexpressa
singlethought.
CJB
Hosea12:8-9
8
"Ahucksterkeepsfalsescales,andhelovestocheat.
9
Efrayimsays,'Ihavegottensorich!Ihavemademeafortune!Andinallmy
profitsnoonewillfindanythingwrongorsinful.'
OtherBibleversionsmightsayamerchantoratraderinsteadofahuckster.
WhattheHebrewactuallysaysthough,isaCanaanite.Canaaniteisasarcastic
nicknamethatishurledattheNorthernKingdom.Itwasatfirstthenameforthe
coastalregionofPhoeniciawheretheygainedfameastravelingmerchants,and
especiallysobysea.However,amongtheIsraelitesthehatedCanaaniteswere
stereotypedasdishonestbusinessmenwhocheatedandliedinordertomakea
profit.Unfortunately,Israelhasbecometheverythingtheyhate,andsoallGod
seesinHisownpeoplearetheCanaanitemerchantsdressedupinHebrewgarb.
Itwasacommonwayforadishonestmerchanttomakeextraprofitbyusing
falsescales.TherearenumerouswisdomsayingsintheBibleagainsttheuseof
falsescalestodefraudpeople.TheLawofMosesspecificallylegislatesagainst
suchathing.
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
12/13
CJB
Deuteronomy25:13-16
13
"Youarenottohaveinyourpacktwosetsof
weights,oneheavy,theotherlight.
14
Youarenottohaveinyourhousetwosets
ofmeasures,onebig,theothersmall.
15
Youaretohaveacorrectandfairweight,
andyouaretohaveacorrectandfairmeasure,sothatyouwillprolongyour
daysinthelandADONAIyourGodisgivingyou.
16
Forallwhodosuchthings,all
whodealdishonestly,aredetestabletoADONAIyourGod.
Whilenotacapitalcrime,obviouslysuchintentionaldishonestyinthe
marketplacerankshighinGod’seyesashowNOTtoloveyourneighbor.Yetin
thisthieveryEphraimrejoices.Theythinktheyarecleverandhaveinsulated
themselvesfromtroublesbymakingthemselveswealthythroughtheir
dishonesty.Theyhaveessentiallyoppressedothers,butnowoppressionis
headedtheirway.Alltheyhavegainedisworthlessandisabouttobecomethe
propertyofanenemy.Theyareblindtotheirowndoom.Suchterriblebehavior
revealstheirsinfulhearts;whattheythoughtwashiddenandtrivialislaidbare.
Let’sgetalittletechnicalforaminutetorevealsomethingthatisotherwise
hiddenwhenHosea12:9istranslatedintoEnglish.
IntheHebrew,thereisahierarchyofcrimesfromtheleasttotheworst.Wefind
thisprinciplethroughouttheLawofMosesandgenerallyacrime’sseriousness
canbeexpressedbytheseverityofthepenaltyforthatcrime.So,thecommon
Christianmantrathatasinisasinisasin...fromstealingaloafofbreadto
murdereverysinisallthesametoGod…thisisthefurthestthingfrombiblical
truth.InHebrewthescaleoftheseriousnessofacrime(startingwiththeleast
crime)ishete,thenpesa,andfinallytheworstcrimeiscalledavon.Generallyin
Englishthesearerendered,inorder,sin,transgressionandtheniniquity.What
thispassageinHoseatellsusisthatGodseesIsrael’sdishonestyasavon…
iniquity…theworst.Maybetodrawacomparisontosomethingmostofusare
familiarwithwecouldsayitthisway:Israelthoughtoftheirownclever
dishonestyasamisdemeanor;butGodjudgeditasafelony.
Inverse10YehovehcontinuestoremindIsraelofjustwhoHeis,andthatitisHe
thatIsraelshouldhavetrustedandnotthegodsofthepagans.HeistheGod
whorescuedIsraelfromEgyptandledthemthroughthewildernesstothe
PromisedLand;thelandfromwhichGodisnowejectingthembecauseoftheir
unfaithfulnesstotheCovenantofMoses.Whatwas,formanyyears,awealthy
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
13/13
nationwillbestrippedoftheirabundanceandmadeasnomadslivingintents…
justastheywerewhentheyfledthePharaoh.Toputitinmodernterms,their
standardoflivingisgoingtosuffergreatly.Nomadshavenoland,nonation,no
placetocalltheirown.Theyliveconstantlymobilehavingonlythemostminimal
ofpossessions.Theywillfallfromlivingintherichneighborhoodtobeingthe
homeless.
Godsaysthattheywillreturntolikeitwaswhentheylivedinthedaysofthe
appointedtime(moedinHebrew).Appointedtimesarethefestivalsandholy
days;butthisversespecificallyspeaksofonlyoneappointedtime.Nodoubtthis
isreferringtoSukkot,TheFeastofTabernacles,becauseitconnectstolivingin
temporaryshelters(tents)andbecauseSukkotisconsideredasthegrandestof
allthebiblicalfeasts.Infact,SukkotwasdesignedtocauseIsraeltoremember
thetimewhentheylivedintents,wanderingwithnoplacetocalltheirown.This
reversaloffortuneisjustpartofthereversalofIsrael’sRedemptionHistory.
Movingtoverse11;whiletheCJBtranslationisnotword-for-word,itvery
adeptlycapturesthethoughtbeingcommunicated.Israelcanoffernoexcusefor
theirbehavior,andshouldnotbesurprisedbythejudgmentfallinguponthem,
becauseGodhaswarnedthemthroughtheagencyofProphetsofwhatwill
happentothemiftheyabandonHiminfavorofpagangods.Infact,themeaning
isthatthesepropheticrevelationswereabundantandnotfew.Manyprophets
wereemployedandspokesimilar,consistentmessagesofwarningandrebuketo
Israeloverthedecades.Therefore,thepeople’smisbehaviorisbyinformed
choice…willfulandintentional…andnotbyaccident.It’sliketheexasperated
parentthattellshischildthathe’stoldhimahundredtimestonotdosomething,
butthechildignoredtheinstructionanddiditanyway.
Believers…gentileorJew…thewordsoftheProphets(OldandNewTestaments)
weren’tputintotheBibleforcasualviewing.Theyarepertinentforusofthe21
st
century,justastheywerepertinenttotheHebrewsoftheBibleeras.Those
wordsaremorethanarecordofhistorypastforanancientpeople;theyarealso
apreviewofourfuture(afuturethatmayalreadybeuponustosomedegree).
ThecrimesoftheIsraelitesarethesameasthecrimesoftheChurchand
Synagogue.AndjustliketheIsraelitesofold,ChurchandSynagoguedenyit.
WhentheProphetsspeak,theyarespeakingtoworshippersoftheGodofIsrael,
Lesson21-HoseaChapter12
14/13
nottopagans.AndjustlikeIsrael,ChurchandSynagoguehavere-shaped,
re-purposed,andhybridizedthefaithoftheBibleintosomethingthatIdoubt
Jesuswouldevenrecognize.God’smessageisasimpleone:repentandreturnto
thepurewordbeforeit’stoolate.ReturntothemorallawcodeHegavetoMoses
andbelieveChristwhenHesaidthatHedidnotcometoabolishtheTorahand
theProphets,andthatnottheslightestchangetothosecommands,norour
obligationtoobeythem,wouldhappenuntilHeavenandEarthpassaway.Letgo
ofthesecularandpaganreligiouscustomsandtraditionsthathaveinfiltrated
andpervertedourworshipandourpractices.Otherwise,wewillexperience
God’sjudgmentinsteadofHismercy.
We’llconcludeHoseachapter12andbeginchapter13nexttime.