Planted in a Pleasant Place - Hosea 9:13

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yes, woe also to them when I depart from them!”, and in chapter nine and verse thirteen of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Ephraim … is planted in a pleasant place” where we read,

Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: 

but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.

The verse begins, “Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place:” Hosea began with the word, “Ephraim” whose name means “double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was sometimes used for the northern kingdom”, “as I saw Tyrus” which means “similar and in likeness that I, Jehovah God, looked at, inspected and considered Tyrus whose name means a rock which was a Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast”, “is planted” or “exists at transplanted” “in a pleasant place” which means “within a lovely, comely and stable location, abode, pasture and habitation”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God watched “Ephraim or Israel” become as beautiful as the city of “Tyre”. 

The verse continues, “but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.” Hosea added the words, “but Ephraim” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Ephraim whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was sometimes used for the northern kingdom” “shall bring forth his children” which means “will go forward and proceed with his, Ephraim's, offspring and progeny” “to the murderer” or “toward the slayer, destroyer and one who kills”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said “Ephraim” would proceed with their offspring toward the one who kills. 

When we think through Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God watched Ephraim's location become a lovely place, however, because they abandoned Him, their offspring were being lead to a slaughter. This was not God's plan or desire for “Ephraim”, but they would not listen and obey Him. God wants to be in a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire for us and our families to stay close to Him and away from those who would destroy them. 

Next time Hosea says, “Give them, O 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".