In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing”, and in chapter eight and verse thirteen of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “they sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of my offerings” where we read,
They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of my offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepts them not;
now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
The verse begins, “They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of my offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepts them not;” Hosea began with the words, “they sacrifice flesh” or “they, the people of Ephraim, slaughter animal fat and meat” “for the sacrifices” which means “on behalf of the covenant slaughters” “of my offerings” or “pertaining to my, Jehovah God's, gifts”, “and eat it” which means “and consume and devour it”; “but the LORD” or “however, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “accepts them not” which means “is not in any way or manner pleased, favorable and satisfied with the covenant offerings”. Hosea shared how the people of “Ephraim” offered their animal offerings to Jehovah God, but He was neither pleased nor satisfied with them.
The verse continues, “now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.” Hosea added the words, “now will he remember” or “at this time shall he, Jehovah God, recall and bring to mind” “their iniquity” which means “their, the people of Ephraim's, perversity, depravity, mischief and faults”, “and visit their sins” or “and attend to, reckon and observe their, Ephraim's, errors, wrongs, mistakes and missing of the mark”: “they shall return to Egypt” which means “they, the people of Ephraim, will go and turn back to 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”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God would recall the perversity and depravity of the people of “Ephraim” and attend to their errors and wrongs, and the people of “Ephraim” would go back to “Egypt”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how the people of “Ephraim” continued their religious practices of “sacrifice”, however, their offerings were not to Jehovah God and He knew it. Because of this, God recalled all their perversities and faults and allowed them to go back to “Egypt” from where He delivered them. God not only wants to to begin our relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, but also to remain in a personal relationship with us forever. “Egypt” is often seen as a type of the world, and many people receive Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, but go back to their sinful and worldly ways. When we surrender to Jesus, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we keep ourselves separated from the world, “Egypt”, and remain in an eternal life with Him.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “Israel has forgotten their Maker”, 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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