Hosea 7:8-16
8 Ephraim is himself thrown about with the nations;
Ephraim has become a round loaf not turned over.
9 Strangers devour his strength,
Yet he does not know it;
Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him,
Yet he does not know it.
10 Though the pride of Israel testifies against him,
Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God,
Nor have they sought Him, despite all this.
11 So Ephraim has become like a gullible dove, without sense;
They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12 When they go, I will spread My net over them;
I will bring them down like the birds of the sky.
I will discipline them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly.
13 Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!
Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me!
I would redeem them, but they have spoken lies against Me.
14 And they do not cry to Me from their heart
When they wail on their beds;
For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves,
They turn against Me.
15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms,
Yet they devise evil against Me.
16 They turn, but not upward,
They are like a loose bow;
Their officials will fall by the sword
Because of the insolence of their tongue.
This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Confusion in Israel’s Foreign Policy
Half-baked loaf (v 8-10)
In today’s passage, Israel’s foreign policy is criticized. Three metaphors are used for this purpose. The first is “a round loaf not turned over.” This is a bread-cake that is burned on one side but left raw on the other because it was never flipped over. It is a kind of bread no one wants to eat. Ephraim (the northern kingdom) had allowed foreign influence to enter and had become saturated with the customs of the nations. This placed them in violation of the Law of Moses (ref. Ex. 34:12-16). Ephraim was in a condition where they were valued neither by the Gentiles nor by God. This is what is expressed by the phrase “a round loaf not turned over.” Yet tragically, Ephraim did not realize that foreign powers were devouring its strength, and they became proud. Even with destruction right before them, they still did not return to the Lord.
A gullible dove (v 11-14)
Next metaphor used is “a gullible dove.” Ephraim goes back and forth between Egypt and Assyria, seeking help. This behavior is compared to a dove that flies awkwardly and without purpose (ref. 2 Kings 17:3). But a senseless dove is caught in a net and pulled down to the ground (the judgment from the Lord will fall). Ephraim is like a flock of doves that has fled from the hand of its owner. They gather not to worship the Lord, but simply to eat food and drink wine.
A loose bow (v 15-16)
The third metaphor is “a loose bow.” Ephraim sought help from Egypt in order to resist the threat of Assyria. This condition is described as a loose bow. The essence of sin is “missing the mark,” but aiming at the wrong target is also sin. An arrow shot from a loose bow fly in a direction different from the intended one. Ephraim, instead of turning toward the Lord, turned toward Egypt for help. As a result, they were defeated in battle and became a subject of ridicule in the land of Egypt. Let us examine our own lives using these three images. Are you living half-heartedly? Are you running back and forth in confusion while facing major challenges? Or are you living a misdirected, off-target life? If so, turn your face toward the Lord and seek help from Him.
Today's prayer
O God of Israel, please strengthen and encourage me so that I may stand firmly on Your promises. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.