Ephraim is Smitten - Hosea 9:16

In the book of Hosea, Hosea said about Ephraim, “All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters”, and in chapter nine and verse sixteen of Hosea, Hosea said, “Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up” where we read,

Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit:

yes, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. 

The verse begins, “Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit:” Hosea began with the words,“Ephraim is smitten” or “Ephraim, whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful, exists as beaten, hit, slayed, scourge and killed”, “their root” which means “their, Ephraim's, bottom or deep heel” “is dried up” or “exists as withered and without moisture”, “they shall bear no fruit” which means “they, the people of Ephraim, will not in any manner or way fashion, accomplish or produce any children or offspring”. Hosea shared how “Ephraim” was beaten and scourged, and their deep heels were withered and not supplying any produce whatsoever.

The verse goes on to say, “yes, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.” Hosea continued with the words, “yes, though they bring forth” or “even so, also and indeed, even though they, Ephraim, beget and engender children”, “yet will I slay” which means “still shall I, Jehovah God, execute, kill and put to death” “even the beloved fruit” or “the desired, pleasant and goodly offspring and progeny” “of their womb” which means “belonging to their, Ephraim's, hollow or belly”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God was going to execute the pleasant offspring of“Ephraim” even at the time when they beget and engender them. 

When we think through upon Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God was going to destroy the well loved offspring of the people of “Ephraim” because they abandoned their relationship with Him. When people forsake the ways of Jehovah God who sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone, they put themselves outside of the protective hand of Almighty God. At that point, they and their families are subject to the wicked affects of our ultimate enemy, Satan, who has come to “steal, kill and destroy”. (See John 10:10) God wants us to humble ourselves so that we repent of our sins and come under His protection and care, and when we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us beneath His mighty hand. 

Next time Hosea says, “my God will cast them away”, 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".