In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness”, and in chapter five and verse thirteen of Hosea, Hosea shared what happened, “when Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound”where we read,
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound,
then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb:
yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
The verse begins, “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, ...” Hosea began with the words, “when Ephraim saw his sickness” or “at the time and moment Ephraim, whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was the name sometimes used for the northern kingdom, looked at, perceived, inspected and considered it's malady, calamity, disease and grief”, “and Judah” which means “and Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “saw his wound” or “looked at, perceived, inspected and considered it's sore, bandage and injury” the following occurred. Hosea shared how “Ephraim” observed their malady and disease and “Judah” perceived their injury and sore.
The verse goes on to say, “... then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb:” Hosea continued with the words, “then went Ephraim” or “at that time Ephraim, whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was the name sometimes used for the northern kingdom, departed and left” “to the Assyrian” which means “toward the Assyrian whose name means a step and refers to the people of Assyria”, “and sent to king Jareb” or “and let loose, directed and extended themselves toward the royal ruler and leader named Jareb whose name means contender which was an epithet given to the king of Assyria”. Hosea shared when Ephraim was in distress, they departed to the “Assyrian”royal ruler named “Jareb”.
Finally the verse says, “yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.” Hosea concluded this verse with the words, “yet could he not heal you” or “still and in no way was he, Jareb the king of Assyria, able to cure, repair or make you, Ephraim, whole”, “nor cure you” which means “no and not in any way provide a remedy or remove the bandage” “of your wound” or “from your, Ephraim's, injury and sore”. Hosea said “Jareb”, the king of Assyria, was not able to repair or make Ephraim whole because he was unable to provide a remedy for their injury.
When we think through Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how the people of Ephraim sought to be “healed and cured” from their injury and affliction from the royal ruler named “Jareb” of Assyria. Rather than seek Jehovah God for His remedy, they sought the aid of human adversaries. God watched and allowed Ephraim to do this because He knew the futility of their efforts. God will allow people to seek all other ways to cure them of their affliction of sin, but there is only one way to be rescued and saved, and that is through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and seek the Lord Jesus with all our hearts, minds, souls and spirits, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to come to Him and Him alone whenever we experience injury and wounds within this world.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “I will be unto Ephraim as a lion”, 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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