Going to Seek the LORD - Hosea 5:6

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “the pride of Israel does testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them”, and in chapter five and verse six of Hosea, Hosea said, “they shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD” where we read,

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD;

but they shall not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.

The verse begins, “They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD;” Hosea began with the words,“they shall go with their flocks” or “they, Ephraim, Israel and Judah will leave and depart alongside their small cattle, sheep and goats” “and with their herds” which means “and alongside their multitude and group of oxen, bulls, calves or cows” “to seek the LORD” or “to desire, exact, request and beg of Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Hosea shared how the people within “Ephraim, Israel and Judah” will depart with their multitudes of sheep, goats, oxen, bulls and cows to desire and beg of Jehovah God. 

The verse goes on to say, “but they shall not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.” Hosea continued with the words, “but they shall not find him” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover they, the people in Ephraim, Israel and Judah, will in no way or manner attain, secure, meet, encounter or discover him, Jehovah God”; “he has withdrawn himself” which means “he, Jehovah God, reserved and removed His own Self” “from them” or “separate and apart from the people of Ephraim, Israel and Judah”. Hosea shared how the people within the nations of “Ephraim, Israel and Judah” would be unable to encounter Jehovah God because He removed Himself from being found. 

When we think through Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how the people within the nations of “Ephraim, Israel and Judah” would finally decide to depart from their current situations to search for Jehovah God, however, He would not be discoverable. God wants to have a personal relationship with all of us, however, if we abandon Him like these people did, He may conceal Himself for a time. God loves us, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for our sins, and when we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to encounter Him well before He conceals Himself like He did with the people of “Ephraim, Israel and Judah”. 

Next time Hosea says, “they have dealt treacherously against the LORD”, 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".