Glory Flying Away Like a Bird - Hosea 9:11

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved”, and in chapter nine and verse eleven of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “their glory shall fly away like a bird” where we read,

As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, 

from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.

The verse begins, “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, ...” Hosea began with the words, “as for Ephraim” or “considering Ephraim whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was the name sometimes used for the northern kingdom”, “their glory” which means “their, the people of Ephraim's, honor, abundance, riches, splendor and dignity” “shall fly away” or “will hover, faint, swoon or shine forth” “like a bird” which means “similar and in likeness to flying creatures, winged insects or fowls”. Hosea shared how the splendor and dignity of “Ephraim” would hover and swoon apart from them like flying fowls. 

The verse continues, “... from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.” Hosea added the words, “from the birth” or “separate and apart from the begetting and deliverance”, “and from the womb” which means “and separate and apart from the belly or hallow”, “and from the conceptions” or “and separate and apart from physical pregnancy”. Hosea shared how the offspring of “Ephraim” would not be born, grow in the “womb” or be conceived. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how the splendor and honor of the people of “Ephraim” would “fly away” from them similar to birds that swoon, and this would result in their children not being born, not growing within the “womb” and not being conceived. Because they abandoned Jehovah God for idols and false gods, their entire lives and their children's lives would be affected. God loves us and want to bless us, and having a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for our sins gives us forgiveness of sins, everlasting life and access to Him whenever we have needs. Let all who read these words yield to Jesus, forsake foreign idols and gods, and have the blessing of God upon themselves and their families in this life and in the eternal life to come. 

Next time Hosea shares what happens to Ephraim, “though they bring up their children”, 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".