Half baked and ridiculed....
This chapter in Hosea has so many pictures; bakers, adulterers, senseless flocks that could describe me, those around me, our nation or just Israel ...or have no reference at all, empty words...
But, God's word is given for ....
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ....
Could these words be a rebuke of my behavior, our country's, our world's behavior and rejection? If so, do I need correcting, training in righteousness? Or our country ??? Oh, yes...these words dig deep into my soul, our country's heart...exposed, sinful, wicked, lies, double hearted, half hearted, turning away from the One who provided/trained, deceived, insolent, ridiculed, following after false gods...
These words don't just apply to Israel of long ago, or even currently...they apply aptly to my heart...as well as the country that was founded on Christian principles not so long ago or the world population....and God says He will remember their evil deeds...not just ours but those who have turned their back on Him...anywhere ....
There will come a time of judgement, when all the world will acknowledge that He, indeed, is LORD of all....
Thank YOU for Your Word, both to rebuke my soul and correct my thinking, my heart...I pray that your Word does not go unheard wherever it is given...
They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets; but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds.
Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.
"They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.
They are all adulterers, burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
On the day of the festival of our king, the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.
Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intrigue.
Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers.
All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.
“Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over. Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.
Israel’s arrogance testifies against him,but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God Or search for him.
“Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless—now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.
When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky.
When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.
Woe to them, because they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.
They do not cry out to me from their heartsbut wail on their beds.
They slash themselves, appealing to their gods for grain and new wine,
but they turn away from me.
I trained them and strengthened their arms,
but they plot evil against me.
They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow.
Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words.
For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
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