God’s rebuke continues in this chapter in v1-6. He begins with a trumpet sound, which should be a positive sound for the people and the troops. We are reminded by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14, in his discourse about unclear tongues, he likens it to an uncertain sound of a trumpet. ”For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? “(v8) The army wouldn’t know when to attack. Here the trumpet was to assemble the enemy to attack Israel because they had transgressed God’s law, going against His will, setting up false leaders and idols. Even though Israel will cry out to God, it will be useless for they have gone against Him. Rather like the words of Jesus when He said, ‘Many will come in my Name, saying they have done this and that in His Name, but He will say, “Depart from Me I never knew you.”’ (Matthew 7:22,23)
“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind” (v7) Their foolish pursuit of false gods would reap a severe judgment from the Lord. I believe that we only find this statement here in Hosea, but it has become a modern-day proverb indicating that we often reap more than sow, when it comes to sowing evil.
The Bible clearly says that we reap what we sow, but this seems to go further in that worse will come from our actions. A warning that we must expect to suffer serious consequences as the result of our own bad actions.
Israel had gone to the Assyrians and would be conquered by them, but God in His mercy, promised them that they would return for He would gather them. God, throughout, shows that they would suffer the consequences of their actions but, He would still be merciful to them (v7-10). His judgment is certain, but it is always tempered by mercy.
The guys in prison were asking today if God had given up on them because they were incarcerated, but I assured them that, the very reason that they were present in the Bible Study group, was evidence that God would have mercy on them, and that His grace was available even though they didn’t deserve any, just as we all don’t, whether in prison or not, because we have all sinned.
Ephraim (Israel) knew God’s word, but they had slipped into idolatry and made altars which were sinful. God said that He would not accept their sacrifices because they were not genuine. They even considered God’s word as strange, even though He had stated great things for them, and had rejected it (v11-13).
The Bible contains great things, it is the greatest book ever written. It is given to us by God, and we neglect it at our peril. God knows everything about us, and He will not overlook our sins. They cannot be brushed under the carpet. However, He does promise that if we truly repent of them, He will forgive them. Jesus went to the cross and took all sin upon Himself, and when God forgives, He remembers our sin more. If we fail to repent, we will die in our sin, there is only one way of salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. Why would anyone reject this good news?
Israel had rejected it (v14) and they would suffer the disastrous consequences and their fortified cities would not provide any refuge whatsoever. Without The LORD God their defences would be futile. Only He could provide refuge – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”. (Psalm 46:1 and 48:3)
