Israel Backsliding - Hosea 4:16

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “though you, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not you unto Gilgal, neither go you up to Bethhaven, nor swear, The LORD lives”, and in chapter four and verse sixteen of Hosea, Hosea said, “Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer” where we read,

For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer:

now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

The verse begins, “For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer:” Hosea began with the words, “for Israel slides back” or “because, since and on account that Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob is stubborn, rebellious and refractory” “as a backsliding heifer” which means “similar and in likeness to rebellious and stubborn cow or kine”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God considered the nation of Israel to be as stubborn and rebellious as an obstinate cow.

The verse continues, “now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.” Hosea added the words, “now the LORD” or “at this time Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “will feed them”which means “shall graze, tend to and pasture them, the nation of Israel” “as a lamb” or “similar and in likeness to a young sheep or young ram” “in a large place” which means “within a broad, roomy, wide and expansive location”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God questioned the idea of Him providing for the stubborn nation of Israel similar to the way He would provide for a sheep within an expansive location. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how Hosea shared God's knowledge of the stubborn and rebellious state of the nation of Israel, and He presented the idea of Him not providing for them like He would a young sheep within a large location. In other words, why should God provide for a nation of people who were rebellious to Him? God loves people, and He provides for those who are just and unjust. (See Matthew 5:45) His desire is to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit how to remain under His provision and protection for all our lives. 

Next time Hosea says, “Ephraim is joined to idols”, 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".