Hosea's message, sadly, resembles the African situation in detail. Or have we reached and exceeded Ephraim's rebellion? Consider the list and intensity of calamities, which increased and reinforced each other.
Israel responded with idolatry (cultural revival?) to God's favour and endowment, v. 10. Result: they "became as vile as the thing they loved". We see departed glory, dwindling fortunes and extreme all round agonies in families, farms and society (vs 11-14, 16). Read the verses, listing the ills/trends despite being "planted in a pleasant place". God rejected and abandoned His people due to wickedness, rebellion and sin even among believers. Israel (or Ephraim) became "wanderers among nations".
These calamities befell old and young, male and female, ruler and follower, man and beast. Read the warning in Hebrews 10:31. When people depart from God, they only get worse, till they repent and seek God's forgiveness. Was Israel relying on rituals or history? Godly backgrounds do not guarantee present blessings. We must personally walk daily and steadily with God.
Check your distance from God; act quickly to close up any gap that could keep you far or farther from Jesus.
Turn the above into a sincere and fervent prayer for yourself.
©Scripture Union Nigeria
REMAIN BLESSED!
