1 Ephraim chases the windand pursues the east wind all day long;he multiplies lies and violence;he makes a covenant with Assyriaand sends olive oil to Egypt.2 The LORD also brings a charge against Judah.He will punish Jacob according to his waysand repay him according to his deeds.3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel,and in his vigor he wrestled with God.4 Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed;he wept and sought His favor;he found Him at Betheland spoke with Him there —5 the LORD is the God of Hosts—the LORD is His name of renown.6 But you must return to your God,maintaining love and justice,and always waiting on your God.7 A merchant loves to defraudwith dishonest scales in his hands.8 And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become!I have found wealth for myself.In all my labors, they can find in meno iniquity that is sinful.”9 But I am the LORD your Godever since the land of Egypt.I will again make you dwell in tents,as in the days of the appointed feast.10 I spoke through the prophetsand multiplied their visions;I gave parables through the prophets.11 Is there iniquity in Gilead?They will surely come to nothing.Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stonesin the furrows of the field.12 Jacob fled to the land of Aramand Israel worked for a wife—for a wife he tended sheep.13 But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,and by a prophet he was preserved.14 Ephraim has provoked bitter anger,so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon himand repay him for his contempt.REFLECTIONSWritten by Gus CameronToday’s passage reminds me of the saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” It’s saying that children are often like their parents. In this case, Israel is like their great, great, and a few more, grandfather Jacob whom God renamed Israel.Jacob was not a nice guy. He was deceitful and scheming right from birth, only interested in looking after himself. But God came and humbled Jacob. He sent an angel to wrestle with him, and Jacob learned his lesson and was a changed man.In Hosea 12, God is looking at Israel and seeing them act like their ancestor Jacob. They are scheming to make themselves rich, but God is promising to come and humble them too. The question is, will they learn their lesson, or will they continue in their rebellion?As I reflect on their rebellion, I can’t help but think about the society we live in today, which is consumed by a desire to be rich. People proudly live in full, open rebellion against God. The next time God comes in judgement will be when Christ Jesus returns, and then it will be too late. We need to pray that God will humble them before that day comes. We have the wonderful promise of the gospel! Pray now that God’s Spirit would bring many more to new life in Christ as we share the hope we have in him.





























ABOUT THE AUTHORGus is our Senior Assistant Minister.

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