In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “Israel has cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. Your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be before they attain to innocency?”, and in chapter eight and verse six of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “for from Israel was it also” where we read,
For from Israel was it also: the workman made it;
therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
The verse begins, “For from Israel was it also: the workman made it;” Hosea began with the words, “for from Israel” or “because, since and on account that out of Israel whose name means God prevails and was the name for the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “was it also” which means “existed it, the calf, even so and indeed”: “the workman made it” or “the craftsman, artisan, engraver and artificer formed, fashioned and accomplished it, the calf”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God knew the “calf” fashioned and formed by an artisan was formed by a craftsman within “Israel”.
The verse continues, “therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.” Hosea added the words,“therefore it is not God” or “wherefore, then and on this account it, the calf, does not exist as the Supreme Deity and True God”: “but the calf” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the idol formed in the shape of a bull-calf or bullock” “of Samaria” or “belonging to Samaria whose name means watch mountain and was the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam” “shall be broken in pieces” which means “will exist as splintered, fragmented and ruined”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God declared the “calf” formed by an Israeli artisan was not the Supreme God and that it would be fragmented and ruined.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea shared God's view of the “calf” that was worshiped by the people of “Israel”. Not only was it formed and fashioned by a craftsman, but it was not a “god” at all. The fate of this “calf” was to be destruction, and anyone following after images like this will find their lives in ruin as well. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the father, but by me” (See John 14:6), and “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”(See Acts 4:12). God sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and only when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord” will we be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit so we worship only Him and not a false “calf” or “idol” that will lead those who follow them to eternal ruin.
Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind”, 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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