Hosea 12
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Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;
5 Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.
6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.
7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
9 And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13 And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Hosea 12:1-14
1Ephraim feeds on the wind
and pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply falsehood and violence;
they make a covenant with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.
The Lord’s Indictment of Israel and Judah
2The Lord has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.
3In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God.
4He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
He met God at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—
5the Lord, the God of hosts,
the Lord is his memorial name:
6“So you, by the help of your God, return,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
7A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
he loves to oppress.
8Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
9I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.
10I spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied visions,
and through the prophets gave parables.
11If there is iniquity in Gilead,
they shall surely come to nothing:
in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
their altars also are like stone heaps
on the furrows of the field.
12Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel served for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him
and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Hosea 12:1-14
1Ephraim feeds on the wind;
he pursues the east wind all day
and multiplies lies and violence.
He makes a treaty with Assyria
and sends olive oil to Egypt.
2The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah;
he will punish Jacob according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds.
3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;
as a man he struggled with God.
4He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel
and talked with him there—
5the Lord God Almighty,
the Lord is his name!
6But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always.
7The merchant uses dishonest scales
and loves to defraud.
8Ephraim boasts,
“I am very rich; I have become wealthy.
With all my wealth they will not find in me
any iniquity or sin.”
9“I have been the Lord your God
ever since you came out of Egypt;
I will make you live in tents again,
as in the days of your appointed festivals.
10I spoke to the prophets,
gave them many visions
and told parables through them.”
11Is Gilead wicked?
Its people are worthless!
Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?
Their altars will be like piles of stones
on a plowed field.
12Jacob fled to the country of Aram;
Israel served to get a wife,
and to pay for her he tended sheep.
13The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,
by a prophet he cared for him.
14But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger;
his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed
and will repay him for his contempt.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
“Wait for your God always.” Hosea 12:6
Waiting tests the stoutest of hearts. Whether we are awaiting a medical diagnosis, or an important letter, or simply just waiting in line, no one likes to wait.
Perhaps for years you have been waiting for emotional healing, or for a long-desired child, or to find your soulmate. Your heart is failing under the strain and stress. Hope is fading.
When the wait gets long, too often we try to manage the outcome. Abraham and Sarah got tired of waiting and created a family disaster that still roils the Middle East. Jacob refused to wait and utilized deception, leading to countless consequences.
Waiting tries our faith; it tests our trust in God. It challenges our patience. It reveals our emotional coping skills, or lack thereof.
Whatever you may be waiting for, don’t ever give up hope. And don’t force it to happen NOW! Always wait for your God. He will part the sea of impossibility, provide your heart’s manna, and resurrect deadened hope. He makes all things beautiful in His time.
“Wait on the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
Lori Engel
Chaplain (currently disabled), Eugene, Oregon USA (as of this writing)
