Israel the Deceiver (12)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As we navigate through this wonderful OT book of Hosea, we saw last week that God does not abandon his covenants just because his people abandon him. He is always at work, using even his people’s sin, and his righteous response to that sin to bring about his covenant promises, and in doing so, shows his amazing glorious attributes that we saw displayed in the magnificence of God’s Unfailing Love for his covenant people in chapter 11.
Yet, this unfailing love is balanced with God’s judgment on Israel’s unrelenting rebellion against him. How is it even possible that Israel would be a rebellious people since Israel had such a rich history. For, beginning with the patriarchs in Genesis, we see how Yahweh, the covenant keeping God, worked both with them and on them to bring about his covenant promises, thus giving them all the advantages that a loving, all powerful God could provide.
In thinking about this, we are reminded how our contemporary culture excuses irresponsibility. For somehow our culture has convinced us that If only we were born into wealth or into a loving family or into a neighborhood where people are good and friendly, that somehow this would translate into us becoming responsible citizens and doing things right and good. If we are not, then we are victims and should be allowed to continue being irresponsible. However, history tells us that this is not the case since many well bread people with all the advantages of a proper upbringing have gone astray and become rebellious against God and family.
This is where we find Israel this morning as we take a look at one of Israel’s patriarchs, namely Jacob. You will remember that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (giving Israel their name, and who’s name meant supplanter or deceiver), and we will see that though God called this man to be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, they continued to be Israel the Deceiver whose hearts were unchanged by their rich heritage, favorable circumstances, and convenantal blessings.
Text: Hosea 12
Text: Hosea 12
1 Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt. 2 The Lord has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds. 3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. 4 He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us— 5 the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial name: 6 “So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.” 7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress. 8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.” 9 I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast. 10 I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. 11 If there is iniquity in Gilead, they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field. 12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep. 13 By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. 14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
Main Idea: Because God alone can change the heart, the human heart when left to its own, will always choose evil even if given the best of circumstances.
Main Idea: Because God alone can change the heart, the human heart when left to its own, will always choose evil even if given the best of circumstances.
Hosea recounts incidents from Israel’s past in order to display the Lord’s enduring kindness and Israel’s stubborn ingratitude.
I. Israel’s Useless Pursuits (11:12-12:1)
I. Israel’s Useless Pursuits (11:12-12:1)
Israel’s useless pursuits begins on the last verse of chapter 11.
(11:12) Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
surrounded. The northern kingdom has God under siege.
Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One - Remember from last week that Judah and the northern tribes (Ephraim) both suffered lapses in fidelity to the Lord, but Judah, unlike Ephraim, had some good kings (in particular, Hezekiah). One of the highest points in Judah’s history was the victory over the Assyrians when Hezekiah was king (see 2 Kings 18–19, which was 20 years after Samaria fell).
(12:1) Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.
feeds on - See Prov. 15:14; Is. 44:20. - The old saying, “you are what you eat”, is just as true in the spiritual sense as it is in the physical.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
wind … east wind - These images of futility (Job 15:2; Eccl. 1:14) and destruction (13:15; Jer. 18:17) are applied to Israel’s alliances with Assyria (5:13; 7:11; 8:9; 14:3; 2 Kin. 17:3) and Egypt (7:16 note; 2 Kin. 17:4). Such alliances were not merely poor foreign policy, but expressions of faithlessness against the Lord. So in this way, Ephraim depends on what is elusive and unprofitable.
falsehood - Examples of deception included Israel’s vacillation between Assyria and Egypt (7:11), and playing off the latter against the former (2 Kin. 17:3, 4).
oil - Gifts were often given when making covenants, so this could refer to an inducement offered to Egypt for relief when Israel was paying tribute to Assyria.
II. Israel’s Past Legacy (12:2-6)
II. Israel’s Past Legacy (12:2-6)
(12:2) The Lord has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds.
indictment - As in 4:1, the Lord acts as plaintiff, judge, and prosecutor in a court scene, bringing a covenant lawsuit against His people. He calls for punishment (v. 2) but also reconciliation (v. 6).
Jacob - That is, Israel (10:11; cf. Gen. 32:28).
God’s punishments are the product of his justice, prefiguring the justice of final judgment (Rev. 20:11–15). Such demonstrations of justice make plain the need for pardon through the propitiation of Christ (1 John 2:1–2).
(12:3) In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God.
took - The Hebrew here is the root for “Jacob” (Gen. 25:26) and is translated “cheated” in Gen. 27:36
36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”
(12:4) He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us—
strove with the angel - The Hebrew root for “strove” is given as the source of the name “Israel” in Gen. 32:28. In tenaciously seeking God’s blessing. This happened at Peniel (Gen. 32:24–31), where the angel touched Jacob’s hip socket and put it out of joint. That divine wounding of Jacob made him into the new man, Israel, thus setting a positive example for the nation (v. 6).
Bethel (house of God) - The place where God made Himself known to Jacob when he complied with God’s command, and God changed his name and reassured Jacob of his former promises to his forefathers (Gen. 35:9–15).
(12:5) the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial name:
the Lord, the God of hosts - A doxology, similar to those in Amos (Amos 4:13; 5:8, 9; 9:5, 6), here reminds Israel that the covenant God of the patriarchs (the Lord - Yahweh) is the God of hosts, the commander of Israel’s armies, and sovereign over all creation (Zech. 1:3 note).
(12:6) “So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”
return - Like Jacob, who returned to Bethel to fulfill his vow (Gen. 35:1–15), Israel must return to the Lord.
By doing so, Hosea once again calls his people to their divine calling and election, ratified by promises to the patriarchs (see note on Hos. 2:8; cf. Rom. 9:10–13). God’s election was the origin of Israel’s calling and the very reason that Israel can now be restored.
By God’s grace Israel can return and exhibit the qualities of love and justice.
But Israel’s deeds and words (vv. 7–8) show they refuse to hold fast and wait continually for their God (v. 6).
III. Israel’s Declared Independence (12:7-9)
III. Israel’s Declared Independence (12:7-9)
(12:7) A merchant (Israel), in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.
A merchant, in whose hands are false balances - Their cruel and deceptive business practices oppress while they think of themselves as innocent.
(12:8) Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.” -
“Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself - a declaration of independence that takes all the credit for where they are and disregards anyone or anything that helped get them there.
in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin. - in defiance they redefine sin so that the end will justify the means.
Now we hear the Lord speak directly to Israel...
(12:9) I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.
I am the Lord your God … Egypt - The statement is one of self-presentation; it introduces an expression of the divine will to the covenant people (Ex. 20:2; Deut. 5:6).
tents … appointed feast - A reference to the Feast of Booths, when the people lived in booths in memory of Israel’s time in the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Lev. 23:43). Just as Israel was judged with forty years of wilderness wandering (Num. 14:33), so here Israel is threatened with the “wilderness” of exile from the land.
IV. Israel’s Guiding Prophets (12:10-14)
IV. Israel’s Guiding Prophets (12:10-14)
(12:10) I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables.
spoke to the prophets - The revelations granted to the Lord’s people by the ministry of the Lord’s prophets were special and numerous so that no one could plead ignorance as an excuse.
visions - A mode of revelation to the prophets (Num. 12:6; Job 33:14–16).
parables - These “parables” were figures of speech bearing divine messages (2 Sam. 12:1–4; Ps. 78:2; Is. 5:1–7; Ezek. 17:2–10). Hosea and Gomer were an example of a live parable.
(12:11) If there is iniquity in Gilead, they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field.
Gilead - This region east of the Jordan, bordered by Moab on the south and Bashan on the north, was a place of illegal sacrifices, bloodshed, and idolatry. It was conquered by Assyria in 734–732 b.c. (2 Kin. 15:29; Hos. 6:8).
Gilgal - Remember that this important Israelite sanctuary near Jericho was situated across the Jordan from Baal-peor. From the time of the conquest, Gilgal was an important place of worship (Josh. 4:19–5:12; 1 Sam. 10:8; 11:12–15). Later in Israel’s history, Gilgal became associated with wicked and syncretistic religious practices (9:15; 12:11; Amos 4:4).
heaps on the furrows - Large stones struck by the farmer’s plow were piled in heaps, thus signifying the manifold wickedness of Israel.
(12:12) Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep.
land of Aram - Paddan-aram (Gen. 28:2, 5).
served … guarded - Hosea compares Jacob’s service to secure a wife from a foreign country with God’s rescue of His people from Egypt.
(12:13) By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded.
prophet … prophet - The first prophet is clearly Moses (Deut. 18:15; 34:10–12) and the second probably is as well. The preserving prophet could, however, be a later prophet such as Samuel (Jer. 15:1) or Elijah (1 Kin. 19:9–18).
(12:14) Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
Ephraim has given bitter provocation - Again God’s covenant faithfulness (v. 13) is contrasted with Israel’s faithlessness. The Lord had been provoked by the worship of pagan gods (Deut. 32:21), but here even more offenses seem involved.
bloodguilt - This is a reference either to murder itself (4:2; 5:2; 6:8) or, as in ancient legal texts, to any capital crime. The verse concludes the lawsuit, and is a reminder that, covenant election entails covenant responsibility.
As we wrap up this chapter, we have seen that Israel was content to feed on a steady diet of nothingness, though they had every reason to serve God because of their amazing legacy, but instead they declared their independence against God, even though he continued to warn them by his prophets concerning his impending judgment against them.
So What?
So What?
Do we understand that God’s sovereign work through the covenant of redemption supersedes anything that we are lacking?
In other words, we might have had an absolutely horrible upbringing with next to nothing regarding the spiritual, yet, nothing can keep you from repenting and trusting Christ as your Saviour and Lord.
Remember, salvation is totally of God, we can bring nothing or do nothing to qualify us to be his child and a member of his kingdom.
Are you here this morning and have become dull of hearing of God’s saving message of salvation?
You may have been raised with all the spiritual advantages, much like Israel, and know all about the wickedness of our sin and what God did to save us from it, but have refused to trust Christ.
Instead, you have foolishly declared your independence from God, thinking that you don’t need him and somehow you have convinced yourself that you can get along just fine without him.
Remember, one of Satan’s tactics is to make you think that you are a self made man or woman. However, just like Israel, God’s judgment will come, and having such a rich spiritual heritage will make his judgment more severe.