Eating and Not Having Enough - Hosea 4:10

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of the nation of Israel, “there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings”, and in chapter four and verse ten of Hosea, Hosea said, “they shall eat, and not have enough” where we read,

For they shall eat, and not have enough:

they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase:

because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

The verse begins, “For they shall eat, and not have enough:” Hosea began with the words, “for they shall eat” or “because, since and on account that they, the people and priests within the nation of Israel, will devour and consume”, “and not have enough” which means “and in no way have a sufficient supply”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said the people and priests within the nation of Israel would consume whatever they desire, but they would continue to be hungry and never satisfied.

The verse continues, “they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase:” Hosea added the words, “they shall commit whoredom” or “the people and the priests of Israel will act as a harlot and perpetuate fornication and adultery”, “and shall not increase” which means “and will in no way break through, burst out, spread and be distributed”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said the priests and people of Israel would continue in their adultery and harlotry and would in no way spread out and gain anything from it. 

Finally the verse says, “because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.” Hosea concluded this verse with the words, “because they have left off” or “since and on account that they, the people and priests within the nation of Israel, have departed, forsaken and abandoned” “to take heed” which means “to guard, observe, have charge of and keep watch” “to the LORD” or “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Hosea ended this verse with reference to the abandonment of Jehovah God as the reason for the judgment upon the priests and people of Israel.

When we consider Hosea's words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God continued to bring accusations against the priests and people of Israel. Even though He brought them into a relationship with Him, they continued in their adulterous and idolatrous ways without any gain from it at all. They refused to keep and observe Jehovah God's way of living. Many people are like this today, and God still loves them. God will continue to pursue a relationship with people through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of everyone in a similar manner to the way He does for the nation of Israel. When we yield our lives to Him, repent of our sins and trust in, rely upon and cling to Jesus, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to “take heed” to Him even when others around us show no desire to be with Him at all.

Next time Hosea shares what will, “take away the heart”, 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".