Thursday 07 February 2013
- Bible Book:
- Hosea
Background
Today's passage begins with a reminder that God is faithful andholy. Why is this important? It is because it reiterates why Godwants right behaviour and righteousness to flow out of people'slives in the first place. We are instructed elsewhere in Scripture:"You shall be holy for I am holy" (
Hosea now breaks down what has been going on in the tribes andin the regions that God does not like. This begins with Ephraimfeeding on the wind: this means taking a cavalier attitude to lifeand the curious phrase "pursues the east wind all day long" isabout taking an interest in what is foolish and what is vanity.When people are said to be fickle or easily led we tend to say theyare like the wind. I presume this phrase originally comes from theprophet Isaiah who likens people to grass and says they blow thisway and that like the wind (
As for Jacob, the charge is no better! It starts with the claimhe was causing problems before he was even born (verse 3). That isa cruel indictment if ever there was one! The prophet thendescribes how he wrestled with an angel and begged for favour(verse 4), giving the impression of desperation (see
To Ponder
- Do you feel at times you are carried along with the prevailingmood of the crowd? What were the occasions?
- Do you sometimes feel that God is not on your side? What was itlike?
- In what ways do you talk to God?