Ephraim Like a Silly Dove - Hosea 7:11

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “the pride of Israel testifies to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this”, and in chapter seven and verse eleven of Hosea, Hosea said, “Ephraim also is like a silly dove” where we read,

Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

The verse begins, “Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart:” Hosea began with the words, “Ephraim also” or “Ephraim, whose name means, double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was the name sometimes used for the northern kingdom, even so and indeed” “is like a silly dove” which means “exists similar and in likeness to a simple, deceived and gullible bird such as a dove or pigeon” “without heart” or “not having a soul, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, determination or conscience”. Hosea shared how the nation of “Ephraim” existed similar to a simple and gullible “dove” bird. 

The verse goes on to say, “they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” Hosea continued with the words, “they call to Egypt”or “they, the nation of Ephraim, utter a loud sound, cry out and proclaim aloud toward Egypt whose name means land of the copts and is a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows”,“they go to Assyria” which means “they, the nation of Ephraim, depart, proceed and move toward the nation Assyria, whose name means a step, for help and aid”. Hosea shared how the people of Ephraim call out to the “Egyptians” and “Assyrians” for help rather than Jehovah God. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea continued to speak of the foolishness of the people within the nation of Ephraim. Not only were they simple minded and unwilling to return to Jehovah God, they sought the aid of foreign unbelieving nations. God loved the nation of “Ephraim”, and His desire was to have a personal relationship with them, but they turned to other gods and people instead. God loves us as well, and He invites all of us to come to Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of every person. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to seek Him and Him alone to obtain help in our time of need. (See Philippians 4:19) 

Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “I will spread my net upon them”, 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".