Daily Archive

In Hosea 12:12-14 finally then Hosea makes a pronouncement of guilt. He writes, “Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, and for a wife he tended sheep. 13 By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. 14 Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly; therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, and return his reproach upon him.”

God had raised the nation from the family of Jacob. He delivered them by the hand of Moses through miracles and mighty works. And even in the midst of God’s provision for the nation of Israel they remained in their guilt. They provoked God to anger, literally the term is irritated Him to anger.

Look at all He has done to bring them to the Land and they are about to give it up, to forfeit it. Their unfaithfulness will cause them to pay a heavy price. Yet behind the scenes we see God’s redeeming love in the background the whole time. Still upholding His promises. Still calling His people to return. He has made provision. He has preserved them…to this point. And now there will be no remission of sins. The people are guilty and will be judged as such.

Looking in this chapter at the struggle and sin of Jacob and also at the sovereignty and provision of God we see God’s plan unfolding throughout history, throughout generations, throughout hundreds of years. And as determined as sinful man can be in trying to derail God’s program, it simply cannot be done. God will prevail. His will is going to be done, whether that is accomplished through the salvation of sinners and the outpouring of grace, or through the judgment of sinners in the outpouring of wrath. Both will serve His purposes and both will bring Him glory, otherwise neither would even exist within the realm of possibility. All that is and all that ever will be – all that has happened and all that will come to pass – it is all for the sake of the glory of Jesus Christ! Colossians 1:15-18 reminds us, “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”