In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “the pride of Israel testifies to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria”, and in chapter seven and verse twelve of Hosea, Hosea said, “I will spread my net upon them” where we read,
When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.
The verse begins, “When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven;” Hosea began with the words, “when they shall go” or “at the time and moment they, the people of Ephraim, will depart, proceed and leave”, “I will spread my net” which means “I, Jehovah God, shall scatter, display and stretch out my, Jehovah God's, traps, snares and network for catching animals” “upon them” or “on them, the people of Ephraim”. “I will bring them down” which means “I, Jehovah God, shall make them, the people of Ephraim, descend, decline and be brought low” “as the fowls” or “similar and in likeness to the flying creatures, winged insects and birds” “of the heaven” which means “within the visible skies”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He would stretch out a snare and network to catch the people of Ephraim at the time they “go to Assyria” and make them descend similar to the flying birds within the skies.
The verse continues, “I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.” Hosea added the words, “I will chastise them” or “I, Jehovah God, shall discipline, admonish and instruct them, the people of Ephraim”, “as their congregation” which means “in the manner and way their assembly or gathering” “has heard” or “according to the reports which have reached and perceived”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He would discipline the people of “Ephraim” according to the manner reported to their assembly.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how God promised to discipline the nation of “Ephraim” by “catching them” like a bird in a net and in keeping with the report shared with their assembly. Although the people of “Ephraim” were on the wrong path, Jehovah God was still pursuing them. He does the same with people today. God knows exactly how far away from Him we are, and because sin prevails in our lives, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we surrender our live to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and discipline and correct us so we continually stay close to Him.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “Woe unto them! For they have fled from me”, 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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