Give Them, O LORD - Hosea 9:14

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer”, and in chapter nine and verse fourteen of Hosea, Hosea said,“Give them, O LORD” where we read,

Give them, O LORD: what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

The verse begins, “Give them, O LORD: what will you give?” Hosea began with the words, “give them” or “bestow, grant, permit, ascribe and dedicate to them, the people of Ephraim”, “O LORD” which means “O Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”: “what will you give” or “what is it that you, Jehovah God, should grant, ascribe and grant to the people of Ephraim”? Hosea asked what He should ask Jehovah God to grant to the people of “Ephraim”.

The verse goes on to say, “Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.” Hosea continued with the words, “give them” or “bestow, grant, permit, ascribe and dedicate to them, the people of Ephraim” “a miscarrying womb” which means “a childless, barren and abortive hollow or belly” “and dry breasts” or “and shriveled up bosoms”. Hosea said Jehovah God should grant to the people of “Ephraim” barren “wombs” and shriveled up bosoms. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea wanted Jehovah God to respond to the apostasy of the people of “Ephraim”, and he had to think about what he wanted God to “give” to them. He decided that God should give them abortive “wombs” and shriveled up bosoms. This seems to be an extreme measure, however, the people of “Ephraim” were leading their “children” to the one who kills. God wants to give us the best for our lives, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the power to live according to that truth so we and our families will be with Him for all eternity. 

Next time Hosea says, “all their wickedness is in Gilgal”, 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".