Ephraim Joined to Idols - Hosea 4:17

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place”, and in chapter four and verse seventeen of Hosea, Hosea said,“Ephraim is joined to idols” where we read,

Ephraim is joined to idols:

let him alone.

The verse begins, “Ephraim is joined to idols:” Hosea began with the word, “Ephraim” whose name means “double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful” and was “the name sometimes used for the norther kingdom of Israel” “is joined to idols” which means “exists as united, bound together, coupled and heap-up with idolatrous images”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said “Ephraim” or “Israel” existed as united and heaped-up with idolatrous images. 

The verse goes on to say, “let him alone.” Hosea continued with the words, “let him” or “allow and permit him, Ephraim to be” “alone” which means “given rest, quiet, repose and abandonment”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said to allow “Ephraim” to exist in quiet and abandonment. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God knew the spiritual condition of “Ephraim” or “Israel”. They were consumed with their “idols”, and God gave instruction to abandon them in that state. This was not God's original desire for the people of Israel. They were to worship Him and Him alone. God wants the same for all people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind to give us an opportunity to have communion and fellowship with Him. When we yield our lives to Jesus, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to worship Him and to forsake all other “idols” so we are never abandoned by Him.

Next time Hosea says, “their drink is sour”, 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".