August 23, Hosea 14
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. - Hosea 14:1
God had already sentenced the nation of Israel. That sentence would not be revoked or repealed. Still, God appealed to individual Israelites who might hear and heed to return to him. The ultimate fulfillment of these promises would not be realized until Messiah came. Then Jews who believed on Christ along with Gentiles would be welcomed and counted as children of God in the new Israel, Messiah's kingdom, the church.
Those who would return to the LORD were to bring more than a ritual sacrifice with them. God told them to bring words. He invited them to ask him to take away their iniquity. He wanted them to make new, fresh vows that they would no longer look for their strength in military equipment (horses) bought from Egypt. They needed to vow that idolatry was a thing of the past and no longer call a thing they had made with their own hands their God. They had been left as orphans when God told them they were not his people, and he was not their God. But those orphans could return to God, find mercy and be adopted (New Covenant language).
In exchange for the vows of their lips (which is an image of praise in the New Testament book of Hebrews), God vowed to heal their apostasy. Israel as a whole would not return as a nation, but individuals could still return to God. He did not love and accept them on the basis of their merit or because they earned his favor. He would love them freely. Because God made Christ a propitiation for sins, his anger could be turned away from guilty sinners. And when the relationship was restored, he would bless them.
Like many other Old Testament promises of God's favor and blessing, God dressed these blessing promises in robes of agricultural success, flourishing and fruitful trees and vines. God even described himself as a tree when he promised to answer their prayers, look after them and provide for them. He was willing and well able to do what none of their fertility idols could actually do for them. God stressed that he had nothing to do with idols. He alone would be their savior and sustainer.
God called for the wise ones among the Israelites to understand and know these things were true. The discerning ones would realize that the ways of the LORD were right, and they would walk in God's ways. Their genuine return would be fruit of their repentance. Transgressors lacked the wisdom and discernment to see that the Lord's way was right, and they would continue to stumble on their own way. More than just missing a step and nearly falling, stumbling in Bible imagery usually represents a disastrous fall.
This chapter begins and ends with stumbling. Israel stumbled because of their iniquity. At the end, God warned all transgressors (including you and me) that all who choose their way instead of God's way will stumble. I pray that you and I will receive grace to be wise and discerning enough to recognize that God's way is right. May God be merciful to us as we return to him, confessing and forsaking our sins. What he promised Israelites in this chapter, he promises to us as blessings in Christ.
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—August 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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