Hosea 7-8
Original Post:  July 28, 2012


Hosea continues his forecast of doom for Israel and Judah, but he also reveals something else of God's character.   Sure, God is going to bring destruction and misery upon the people, but He has also decided not to make it as violent as He first intended.   God loves, so he relents.  (11:8)   He also reveals through Hosea that His anger will not last forever, instead a time of renewal will come where the people are again humble, and focused on God.   They will be restored to the land and will prosper again.  In fact, Hosea tells them that people from all over the world will come to them to hear from God.

In the historical sense, this speaks of Assyria coming to overthrow the nation.   The captivity will last 70 years or so.  All of the idols that the people made for themselves will be removed.   I was getting all excited when I saw the passage about an eagle over them because I was thinking that the U.S. is the eagle, and we would be watching over them.  However, this is to be understood in context for the time it was written.   An eagle is a carrion eating bird, and will circle where dead bodies are found.   It is very similar to the vulture, and in fact, the word here can be easily translated "vulture".   Hosea is talking about judgment, not someone coming to the rescue.

The beginning of Chapter 11 is used in the New Testament to reference Jesus returning from Egypt when king Herod dies.  (Matthew 2:15)

Something else occurs to me today.   There are several prophets all saying pretty much the same thing to the nation.   In my mind's eye I have always envisioned the lone prophet addressing the king, or the people and being ignored.   One lone voice.    But there were several alive at the same time, repeating the same message.    It was largely ignored anyway, just as the message of salvation is often ignored today.

The last words recorded in Hosea are worth remembering:  "The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."

PR