HOSEA LESSON 12
We will begin this lesson in Hosea 12:1 "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."
In this chapter, we see again, that God is reminding Ephraim of
their faults. The worst thing they did, besides worshipping false
gods, was the fact they made treaty with a worldly country.
Hosea 12:2 "The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will
punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he
recompense him."
When Jacob is mentioned, it is speaking of all 12 tribes of
Israel. God is not a respecter of persons. When they sin, they are
judged of God, and made to pay whatever punishment God allots to them.
He is a forgiving God, but He is, also, a just God.
Hosea 12:3 "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by
his strength he had power with God:"
This is speaking of Jacob and Esau, when they were born. We
remember from previous lessons, the birthright belonged to Esau, but
he traded it to his brother Jacob for a bowl of soup. Even in their
mother's womb, before they were born, there was war going on between
the two. It has never stopped, until this very day. Jacob tricked His
father into giving him the right hand {preferential} blessing.
Hosea 12:4 "Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he
wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him [in] Beth-el, and
there he spake with us;"
Jacob had wrestled all night with the angel of the Lord. Jacob
won the battle, and caused the angel to bless him. God, through the
angel, changed Jacob's name to Israel. All of this happened at Beth-
el. "Beth-el" means house of God. Jacob's life was changed. He became
the father of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Hosea 12:5 "Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD [is] his
memorial."
We saw in the verse before this, Jacob was sorrowful for his
past. We, now, see salvation has come to him through covenant with
God. It is not Israel that is God's memorial, but God that is Israel's
memorial.
Hosea 12:6 "Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and
judgment, and wait on thy God continually."
Their repentance has to do with man, but the greatest repentance
for them, or us, is to repent and be brought back into right standing
with God. God is never very far away. Turn to God, and He is there.
This is saying, again, that salvation is a continual thing. Once a
person receives salvation, they must continue to walk in that
salvation. Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he
shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Hosea 12:7 "[He is] a merchant, the balances of deceit [are] in
his hand: he loveth to oppress."
God always cautioned His people to deal with just weights.
Leviticus 19:36 "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just
hin, shall ye have: I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you out of
the land of Egypt." One of the ways you could determine who belonged
to God, was by the way they conducted themselves in business. Proverbs
11:1 "A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: but a just weight
[is] his delight." Those who oppress their neighbor are not godly
people.
Hosea 12:8 "And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found
me out substance: [in] all my labours they shall find none iniquity in
me that [were] sin."
There is not one place in the verse above, that God is given
credit for making Ephraim rich. Ephraim thinks he has done this
himself. Proverbs 30:12 "[There is] a generation [that are] pure in
their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness."
Ephraim thought he was perfect. He did not feel any guilt for the sins
he committed. This is a dangerous place to be in. Those who know they
are guilty of sin, seek a Saviour.
Hosea 12:9 "And I [that am] the LORD thy God from the land of
Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of
the solemn feast."
During the time of the solemn feast, they dwelt in tabernacles.
Sometimes, they are called booths. This could, also, be speaking of
them dwelling in tents. This is just indicating an uncertain dwelling
place. Abraham gave up his house, and dwelt in tents. He was looking
for a city whose maker was God.
Hosea 12:10 "I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have
multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the
prophets."
The prophets did not speak their own words. They spoke the words
God put into their mouths. God had given visions to warn them, as
well. The similitudes in the ministry of the prophets were things,
like Isaiah walking naked and barefoot in the street. The prophet was
showing in the physical, the spiritual condition of the people.
Another very good example of that, was Jeremiah wearing the yoke
around his neck, when he ministered. The similitudes could be, also,
speaking of the parables of things, like the vineyard that were given.
God had used everything within His power to reach them, before it was
too late.
Hosea 12:11 "[Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are
vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars [are] as
heaps in the furrows of the fields."
Yes, there was iniquity in Gilead. Gilead was the mountain region
east of Jordan. They have caused the anger of God to come against
them, because they have sacrificed to idols in Gilead. They had
sacrificed bullocks to strange false gods. They have made altars as
memorials to false gods. "Heaps" have to do with establishing
covenant, and heaping rocks up as a memorial.
Hosea 12:12 "And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel
served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep]."
Israel "served for a wife" could be speaking of the 14 years he
spent working for his uncle Laban for a wife. Genesis 28:5 "And Isaac
sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel
the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother." He
had not taken a wife of the heathen women around him, as his brother
Esau did, but went to his uncle's, and found a wife of the same faith.
He worked as a shepherd.
Hosea 12:13 "And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of
Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved."
The prophet that led them out of Egypt was Moses. Moses prayed,
and God rained Manna from heaven for them to eat. God, through Moses,
brought them 40 years through the wilderness with no lack in their
life. God preserved them, to set them up as an example of His family
to the whole world.
Hosea 12:14 "Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly:
therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall
his Lord return unto him."
Instead of Ephraim being extremely grateful for what God had done
for him, he rebelled against God over and over. God forgave him over
and over and gave him another chance. Whatever happens to Ephraim, he
has no one to blame but himself. His blood and punishment are brought
on himself. His idolatry has gone too far. God has brought punishment.
Hosea 12 Questions
1. God is reminding Ephraim of their _________.
2. What was the worst thing they did, besides worshipping false gods?
3. What is God, besides a forgiving God?
4. When is verse 3 speaking of?
5. Who did the birthright belong to?
6. What was the preferential blessing?
7. Who had Jacob wrestled all night with?
8. Where did this happen?
9. What does the name mean?
10. Who is His memorial?
11. What advice did he receive in verse 6?
12. Quote Psalms chapter 27 verse 14.
13. God always cautioned his people about ________ weights.
14. Quote Leviticus chapter 19 verse 36.
15. A false balance was an _____________ to the LORD.
16. What things could the tabernacles, in verse 9, imply?
17. What is the mention of the tabernacles indicating?
18. The prophet's words were actually _________ Words.
19. Name some of the similitudes given?
20. Is there iniquity in Gilead?
21. What terrible thing were they doing there?
22. What is meant, in verse 12, about "serving for a wife"?
23. Who did he work for?
24. What kind of work did he do?
25. What had Ephraim done?
26. What was his punishment for that?
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