In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return”, and in chapter eleven and verse six of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “the sword shall abide on his cities” where we read,
And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches,
and devour them, because of their own counsels.
The verse begins, “And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, ...” Hosea began with the words, “and the sword shall abide” or “the knife, axe, dagger, mattock or sharp cutting instrument will spiral and whirl in a circular motion” “on his cities” which means “upon his, Ephraim's, guarded place, town or place of dwelling”, “and shall consume” or “and will complete, end, exhaust and finish” “his branches” which means “his, Ephraim's, limbs, parts and shoots”. Hosea shared how swirling sharp instruments of war would go through the towns of “Ephraim” and devour their parts and limbs.
The verse continues, “... and devour them, because of their own counsels.” Hosea added the words, “and devour them” or “and burn up, consume and slay them, the people of Ephraim”, “because of their own counsels” which means “since and on account of their, the people of Ephraim's, own personal plans, purposes and advice”. Hosea shared how the people of “Ephraim” would be burned up and consumed on account of their own plans and purposes.
When we mediate upon Hosea's words in this verse, we learn how “Ephraim” would come under the judgment of a consuming war which would devastate them because they followed their own purposes and plans instead of Jehovah God's. God loves the people of Israel, and He has their best interest in mind. He loves us as well, and He knows what is foremost for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His purposes and plans which supersedes any “counsels” we may put together on our own.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “my people are bent to backsliding from me”, 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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