In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned”, and in chapter seven and verse nine of Hosea, Hosea said, “strangers have devoured his strength”where we read,
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not:
yes, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knows not.
The verse begins, “Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not:” Hosea began with the word, “strangers” or “loathsome foreigners and aliens” “have devoured his strength” which means “eat, burn up and consume his, Ephraim's, power, might and ability”, “and he knows it not” or “and he, Ephraim, does not perceive, discern, discriminate, distinguish or consider it, Ephraim's loss of power and might”. Hosea shared how loathsome foreigners consumed the power and might of Ephraim, and the people within the nation were unaware of it.
The verse goes on to say, “yes, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knows not.” Hosea continued with the words, “yes, gray hairs” or “even so, also and indeed, the hoary head of old age” “are here and there upon him” which means “exist within this place and that location on Ephraim”, “yet he knows not” or “still and even so he, Ephraim, is without perception, awareness, discernment or recognition of becoming old and weak”. Hosea shared how “gray hair”, which was the sign of old age and weakness, was upon the nation of Ephraim, and the people within the nation were unaware of it.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Ephraim became old, weak and feeble because loathsome foreigners and aliens infiltrated them, and even when the signs of weakening were apparent, they remained unaware. God knows the spiritual state of every person, and because we all need a “Savior” to remove our sins, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an awareness for when we are being infiltrated by people and ideas that make us weak, feeble and without strength before His eyes.
Next time Hosea says, “the pride of Israel testifies to his face”, 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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