Hosea 14:1, 4

January 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity” (Hosea 14:1).

“I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them” (Hosea 14:4‬).

Just when one thinks unbelieving Israel is a lost cause, God shows His heart. Just when one thinks God has rebuked Israel to the point of exhaustion, God shows His heart. Just when it seems that Israel has finally gone too far into idolatry, God shows His heart. 

In my mind, this book has offered sharper rebukes of Israel than other books. So sharp, in fact, at times it felt like God had tossed Israel aside. Yet, the opening section where God told Hosea to take a wife of whoredom, and to take her back each time she left with another man, should have been a clue that God was not through with Israel. If that wasn’t enough to help me believe that God is not done with Israel, this last chapter should do the trick. 

First, God shows His heart when He calls Israel to repent. “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity” (1). God desires to forgive and restore Israel. 

Second, God says what will happen if Israel repents. “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them” (4‬).

This consistency gives me hope that God will forgive and restore me when I sin. 

Father, thank you for your kindness and mercy. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, forgiveness, Hosea, idolatry, Old Testament, Restoring Israel

Hosea 12:8-9

December 30, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Ephraim 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.’ I 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.” (Hosea 12:8-9)

Two things stand out to me: First, Ephraim’s pride. Ephraim is rich and believes he built it himself. Additionally, he claims sinlessness. 

How easy it is for a business owner (I’m thinking of me, specifically) to think he built it himself. After all, I got up early every day. I made the contacts. I did the teaching. I, I, I. Where is God in that calculation?

Second, God essentially said, “We’ll see about that.” God has a unique capacity to bring down the proud. In this case, will go back to tents in exile. And no doubt, some went kicking and screaming, “Why me? I didn’t do anything!” Why is my pride do heard to wrestle? This reminds me of substituting in a junior high In School Suspension recently. Out of the 12 or so kids who came through, not one of them did anything to be there. The system was simply against them. No amount of reasoning could bring them to admit any wrongdoing. 

Father, help me to crucify my flesh and my pride that I may serve you in righteousness. Amen. 

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Hosea, humility, Old Testament, pride

Hosea 11:1-4

December 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.” (Hosea 11:1-4)

This is beautiful and horrifying all at once. 

Beautiful: God declares his fatherly love for Israel. He notes that He called them out of Egypt, clearly referencing the Exodus. 

Horrifying: The more He called them, the more they went away, chasing their idols. 

Beautiful: God says He taught them to walk. He took them up by their arms. 

Horrifying: “But they did not know that I healed them.” 

Again, I find it easy to look at ancient Israel with a critical eye. The criticism is well deserved. I find it more difficult to look in the mirror to see my own sin. How often do I fail (or refuse) to recognize God’s kindness to me? How often do I chase my own path, seemingly running furiously away from God’s call on me? Far too often! 

Father, help me to stop, look, and listen to you. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Hosea, rebellion

Hosea 10:1-2

December 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. Their hearts are false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.” (Hosea 10:1-2)

Two conditions stand out. First, “The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built.” Success – accumulation of wealth – was a false barometer of well-being for Israel. The accumulation of wealth was also the means for idolatry. I wonder if they didn’t realize they were moving away from the Lord into idolatry, or if they simply didn’t care? 

Second, “Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt.” This so closely matches what Jesus said, I can’t stop connecting the two: 

“On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬-‭23‬)

In both cases, there was a false belief that led to judgment. This should cause me to soberly evaluate my own faith to see if it is genuine. Clearly, business success and apparent miracles are not indicators of the Lord’s approval. 

Father, please help me to soberly and correctly evaluate my faith to be certain that I am truly walking in the faith. Please help me to trust in Christ alone, and nothing of me. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Hosea, Matthew

Hosea 8:4

December 26, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold, they made idols for their own destruction.” (Hosea 8:4)

God’s commentary is rich. First, in an apparent effort to organize themselves, they made kings and set up princes. However, God said it wasn’t through him or His knowledge. In other words, they did this without consulting God or receiving his input or direction. Yikes! That sounds like me. 

Second, they used resources (gold and silver) provided by God to do evil. I assume that, similar to setting up kings, Israel thought setting up the idols was a good thing. Although, given how much God forbid it, I’m not sure how they could have thought it was a good thing. But I’m also not sure why I do some of the things I do.

Third, they surely didn’t realize (or perhaps, care?) that the idolatry would lead to their destruction. 

Again, it is easy to sit so far removed by time and distance and criticize Israel’s actions (which are evil!), But … How often do I do things – without consulting the Lord – that I think will be helpful, but in reality I am inviting the Lord’s judgement. 

Father, please forgive my pride, which has allowed me to think I can handle everything without consulting you. In short, thinking I am enough. Please forgive me for the times those thoughts have led to harming your name or people or my relationship with you. Please help me to be more spiritually minded than I am. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Hosea, idolatry, Old Testament
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