In the book of Hosea, Hosea said of his wife Gomer and the nation of Israel, “she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now”, and in chapter two and verse eight of Hosea, Hosea said, “she did not know that I gave her corn” where we read,
For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil,
and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.
The verse begins, “For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, ...” Hosea began with the words, “for she did not know” or “because, since and on account that she, Gomer and the nation of Israel, in no way or manner learned, perceived, discriminated or discerned” “that I gave her corn” which means “that I, Hosea and Jehovah God, bestowed, granted and ascribed to her, Gomer and the nation of Israel, wheat or grain”, “and wine” or “and freshly pressed fruit of the vine”, “and oil” which means “and shining, pure anointing oil”. Hosea said his wife Gomer and the nation of Israel did not perceive how he and Jehovah God provided grain, fruit of the vine and pure anointing oil for them.
The verse goes on to say, “... and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.” Hosea continued with the words, “and multiplied her silver” or “and enlarge, make numerous and increase her, Gomer and the nation of Israel's, valuable silver metal” “and gold” which means “and valuable gold metal”, “which they prepared for Baal” or “that they, the nation of Israel, fashioned, accomplished and made on behalf of Baal whose name means lord and was the supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites”. Hosea said Jehovah God was responsible for supplying the valuable silver and gold metal which the nation of Israel used to fashion idol offerings to the false god “Baal”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea referred to the absence of knowledge of his wife Gomer and the nation of Israel for the provision he and Jehovah God provided to them. “Food, fruit of the vine and anointing oil” were abundantly supplied to Gomer and the nation of Israel, and even though their valuable gold and silver metals were given to them, they used them to make idols to a foreign god. God is jealous “for” us because He knows all other gods and material possessions in this life will never satisfy us. He wants a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for our sins, and when we humble ourselves and yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an appreciation for what He has provided and never turn to other “gods” that will leave us empty and unfulfilled.
Next time Hosea says, “therefore will I return, and take away my corn”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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