July 21, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Hosea 8 - Verse 7 of this chapter sums up what the Bible says about our actions:  what you sow, you reap.  Hosea shows the reality of this in Israel's behavior.

Hosea 9 - This chapter speaks of the punishment Israel will face because of their sin.  They will be removed from their land, verse 3.  God will also "depart from them" verse 12.  This is the outcome of what they had done.  What they sowed, they reaped.

Hosea 10 - Israel is called upon by God to "break up your fallow ground" verse 12, and recognize the time to seek the Lord.  They had "plowed wickedness" and they "reaped iniquity" verse 13.  God was calling them to turn back to Him.

Hosea 11 - This chapter starts off with a prophecy about the Lord calling His Son out of Egypt, verse 1 as seen in Matthew 2:15.  God did speak with His people in tenderness, verse 4, and shows how He was genuinely concerned for His own, verses 8-11.

Hosea 12 - God uses Jacob's experiences to remind Ephraim (Israel) that they could have had God's blessing.  Jacob wouldn't let the Angel of the Lord go until God showed Him favor.  So God wanted Israel to seek His favor, but they wouldn't.

Hosea 13 - God reminds Israel that "their is no Savior besides Me" verse 4.  God shows how in the future He will be their King and will ransom them from the grave.  But for the present Israel would face the outcome of their ungodly ways.

Hosea 14  - God keeps calling out to His people, reminding them of their sin, but also making clear that He will heal them of their backsliding and will be loved, verse 4.  They will learn that "the ways of the Lord are right" verse 9.  This is what Hosea's wife would also see as she returned to her husband.