Hosea
12 reminds me of friends with big brothers. As a kid, most of my
friends had older brothers. Some were good examples, but most seemed
to be rotten. They constantly set the example of what NOT to do.
Without a doubt, some of the craziest kids I knew had older brothers
that taught them too much too soon. In today’s chapter Hosea
points to the failures of Israel as a warning to younger sibling
Judah, and he calls out the big brothers by name. The lesson began
with the last verse of the previous chapter, “Ephraim
has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against
God“. Remember the city of
Ephraim was physically close to Judah. The next older brother in age
usually has the most influence on kid brother because they spend the
most time together. He says “Ephraim
feeds on the wind… and
multiplies lies and violence“.
He was like the brother that had to blow up whatever we were doing.
He was the thrill seeker, always looking for a good time. Hosea
says, “He makes a
treaty with Assyria
and sends olive
oil to Egypt“.
He always broke the rules and tried to blame someone else. This was
the one we did not want in charge when mom left us home.
Next
is that phrase we heard when mom was really frustrated with us.
Every family has the black sheep, infamous for messing up. Mom would
say, “You are just like your uncle Jake”. Hosea scolds, “The
Lord has a
charge to bring against Judah; He will punish Jacob…
and
repay him according to his
deeds“. Remember Jacob had a
reputation as a swindler, conniving his way through life. He was a
conman, but Hosea identified the real problem, “as
a man he struggled with God“.
Jacob literally wrestled with an angel, refusing to let go until he
received a blessing. In Genesis chapter 35, after years of doing
things his own way, Jacob finally stopped fighting against God. God
spoke to him in the town of Bethel, and there God changed his name to
Israel. When he stopped fighting against God, the promise given to
Abraham and Isaac was finally received by Jake. Hosea says, “You
must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your
God always“. Is it time to
stop fighting against God?
The
rest of the chapter seems like seeing childhood memories with an
adult perspective. We remember older brothers being giants, with
tons of money and freedom. Today when we see them, the legend does
not always match the reality. Sometimes we learn that the cheaters
had been caught, “The merchant
uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud“.
Some still try to brag, “I am
very rich; I have become wealthy“;
but we can clearly see the truth on their face. Next we read God’s
commentary on these boys that started with so much promise. “I
will… make you live in tents again… Gilead… Its people are
worthless… Israel… tended sheep.”
Bullies sometimes are humbled by life’s circumstances. Hosea
reminds them that our Lord is a God of second chances, “The
Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet He
cared for him“. But what
happens when tough-guys will not stop corrupting others? “His
Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed“.
Is it time for a do-over? Jesus frequently spoke about TODAY. What
will you do with today? Hebrews 3:13 suggests, “Encourage
one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none
of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness“.
What example are you being to your brothers and sisters?