In chapter 8 the Lord is speaking through Hosea to the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) about how they have drifted too far away from God. They have drifted to the point of no return and judgement has become inevitable. God tells them to put the ram’s horn to their mouth which symbolizes a signal for war. He says one like an eagle is coming for the house of the Lord which is the nation of Assyria. God says that Israel cries out to him, but they do not know who they are crying out too. They are unable to recognize what is good anymore. They had put their faith into other nations and idols that they had made for themselves out of silver and gold. It also says that one of these idols is a calf that is in Samaria and it will be destroyed. Remember that this isn’t the first time the Israelites had formed a calf-idol. They also did this when Moses was with the Lord on Mt. Sinai receiving the 10 commandments. The Lord says that their little sins have become big sins and they have turned to other nations like Assyria to bail them out. Now instead of being set apart they have now blended in with the pagan nations that they ran too instead of running to God like they should have. They have created a man-made religion instead of adhering to the statutes and laws that God had given them to set them apart from all of the other pagan nations. This should be a lesson to all of us. We should always have a healthy fear for the Lord in anything we do. Little sins can turn into big sins very quickly. For example having a drink after work can turn into getting drunk every night before bed. Scrolling through Facebook and liking a pretty girl’s picture can turn into watching porn every time you are by yourself on your phone. Turning to food when you are having a bad day can turn into gorging yourself with food every time you get a free moment. I could go on and on about how something so small can turn into something real big real quick. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to stay disciplined to what is good. Also, it is so important to turn to God, repent, and ask for his help and guidance when we stray. We must always turn to God and not the things of this world because when we do this we are telling God with our actions that we don’t need him and we can figure our problems out on our own. When we do this it becomes a pattern and a pattern becomes an idol quicker than you realize. Sometimes it is wiser to stay away from the little things all together because of what that little thing can turn into. Love y’all. Have a great day!
Hosea 8:1-14
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“Put the ram’s horn to your mouth! One like an eagle comes against the house of the Lord, because they transgress my covenant and rebel against my law. Israel cries out to me, “My God, we know you! ” Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him. They have installed kings, but not through me. They have appointed leaders, but without my approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction. Your calf-idol , is rejected, Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? For this thing is from Israel — a craftsman made it, and it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits! Indeed, they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if they did, foreigners would swallow it up. Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like discarded pottery. For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey going off on its own. Ephraim has paid for love. Even though they hire lovers among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to decrease in number under the burden of the king and leaders. When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning. Though I were to write out for him ten thousand points of my instruction, they would be regarded as something strange. Though they offer sacrificial gifts , and eat the flesh, the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their guilt and punish their sins; they will return to Egypt. Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has also multiplied fortified cities. I will send fire on their cities, and it will consume their citadels.”
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