Hosea 13

Hosea 13

The Lord’s Anger against Israel

 ¹ When the tribe of Ephraim spoke,
      the people shook with fear,
      for that tribe was important in Israel.
   But the people of Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal
      and thus sealed their destruction.
 ² Now they continue to sin by making silver idols,
      images shaped skillfully with human hands.
   “Sacrifice to these,” they cry,
      “and kiss the calf idols!”
 ³ Therefore, they will disappear like the morning mist,
      like dew in the morning sun,
   like chaff blown by the wind,
      like smoke from a chimney. ⁴ “I have been the Lord your God
      ever since I brought you out of Egypt.
   You must acknowledge no God but me,
      for there is no other savior.

Jesus, I know there is no other.  My life without You is lifeless.  Glory to You Lord, and You alone.  Help me to live only for You.    

 ⁵ I took care of you in the wilderness,
      in that dry and thirsty land.
 ⁶ But when you had eaten and were satisfied,
      you became proud and forgot me.
 ⁷ So now I will attack you like a lion,
      like a leopard that lurks along the road.
 ⁸ Like a bear whose cubs have been taken away,
      I will tear out your heart.
   I will devour you like a hungry lioness
      and mangle you like a wild animal.

 ⁹ “You are about to be destroyed, O Israel—
      yes, by me, your only helper.
 ¹⁰ Now where is your king?
      Let him save you!
   Where are all the leaders of the land,
      the king and the officials you demanded of me?
 ¹¹ In my anger I gave you kings,
      and in my fury I took them away.

 ¹² “Ephraim’s guilt has been collected,
      and his sin has been stored up for punishment.
 ¹³ Pain has come to the people
      like the pain of childbirth,
   but they are like a child
      who resists being born.
   The moment of birth has arrived,
      but they stay in the womb!

 ¹⁴ “Should I ransom them from the grave?
      Should I redeem them from death?
   O death, bring on your terrors!
      O grave, bring on your plagues!
      For I will not take pity on them.
 ¹⁵ Ephraim was the most fruitful of all his brothers,
      but the east wind—a blast from the Lord—
      will arise in the desert.
   All their flowing springs will run dry,
      and all their wells will disappear.
   Every precious thing they own
      will be plundered and carried away.
 ¹⁶ The people of Samaria
      must bear the consequences of their guilt
      because they rebelled against their God.
   They will be killed by an invading army,
      their little ones dashed to death against the ground,
      their pregnant women ripped open by swords.”

Father, Your wrath is awful, and yet justified.  I know that I am Your child and I need discipline.  If hardship is what I need to bring me closer to You, so be it.  But have pity on my family Father.  But if hardship is needed to bring them closer to You, they are Yours.  Your will be done Father.  For Your way and Your wisdom is always good and best in the end.  I give our future to You, bring us all home someday Father.    

*Hosea13*