In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him”, and in chapter eleven and verse eight of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God asked, “how shall I give you up, Ephraim?” where we read,
How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver you, Israel? How shall I make you as Admah?
How shall I set you as Zeboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
The verse begins, “How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver you, Israel? How shall I make you as Admah?” Hosea began with the words, “how shall I give you up” or “in what way or manner will I, Jehovah God, surrender or lose heart with you”, “Ephraim” whose name means “double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and is the name sometimes used for the northern kingdom”? “How shall I deliver you” or “in what way or manner will I, Jehovah God, save and rescue you”, “Israel” whose name means “God prevails” and is “the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”? “How shall I make you as Admah” which means “in what way or manner will I, Jehovah God, appoint, assign and designate you, Israel, similar and in likeness to Admah whose name means red earth and was a city in the Siddim valley”? Hosea shared how Jehovah God questioned the people of “Ephraim and Israel” as to how He could lose heart with them, rescue them and cause them to be like “Admah”. (See Deuteronomy 29:23)
The verse continues, “How shall I set you as Zeboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.”Hosea added the words, “how shall I set you” or “in what way or manner will I, Jehovah God, put, place, appoint and make you, Ephraim” “as Zeboim” similar and in likeness to “Zeboim” whose name means “gazelles” and was “one of the five cities in the plain which included Sodom and Gomorrah? (See Deuteronomy 29:23) “my heart” or “my, Jehovah God's, inner part, understanding and knowledge” “is turned within me” which means “is overthrown, transformed and changed inside of me, Jehovah God”, “my repentings are kindled together” or “my, Jehovah God's, compassion, comfort and solace yearn, grow warm and tender in a united way”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God also questioned in what way He should place and appoint the people of “Ephraim” similar to the city of “Zeboim” because His inner part and compassion was transforming and growing warm and tender within Him.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea about Jehovah God wresting within Himself concerning the judgment that was to fall upon “Ephraim and Israel”. Rather than punish and destroy “Ephraim” in a quick manner, it's as though Jehovah God was wrestling over the decision to act against them. God loves Israel, and He wants them to come to Him and enjoy a personal relationship with Him. He is the same way toward us, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind to prove it. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and lead us by His Holy Spirit into all truth so He will never have to be in the valley of decision over whether we should be judged or not.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “I will not execute the fierceness of my anger”, 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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