God Meeting People as a Bear - Hosea 13:8

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them”, and in chapter thirteen and verse eight of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps” where we read,

I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart,

and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

The verse begins, “I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, ...”Hosea began with the words, “I will meet them” or “I, Jehovah God, shall encounter and come into contact with them, Ephraim” “as a bear” which means “similar and in likeness to a gliding bear” “that is bereaved” or “which exists as barren or robbed” “of her whelps” which means “pertaining to her, the bear's, pups or cubs”, “and will rend the caul” or “and shall tear in pieces or split asunder the enclosure or encasement” “of their heart” which means “belonging to their, Ephraim's, inner man, understanding, soul and inclination”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He would encounter the people of “Ephraim” similar to the way a “bear” that has been robbed of it's cubs would respond, and He would tear apart the enclosure of their souls. 

The verse continues, “... and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.” Hosea added the words, “and there will I devour them” or “and there shall I, Jehovah God, burn, consume, slay and destroy them, the people of Ephraim” “like a lion” which means “similar and in likeness to a young roaring lion with a mane”: “the wild beast” or “the chaotic and unrestrained animal” “shall tear them” which means “will split, cleave, break open, divide and rip up them, Ephraim”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He would consume and destroy the people of “Ephraim” similar to the roaring “lion” and the way an unrestrained and vicious animal would rip them apart. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea just how demonstrative Jehovah God would be as He responded to the people of “Ephraim” who rejected Him. “A bear, lion and wild beast” were all employed to show how God would carry out His vengeance upon them. God loves people, and His plan is to save them through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from the judgment that shall come upon everyone who refuses to receive His salvation and abandons Him for other gods and their ways. 

Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “O Israel, you have destroyed yourself”, 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".