Hosea 12--The LORD's Indictment of Israel and Judah

Hosea 12
English Standard Version

12 Ephraim 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
2 The LORD has an indictment against Judah
    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
    he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
    and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
    he wept and sought his favor.
He met God at Bethel,
    and there God spoke with us--
5 the 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.”

7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
    he loves to oppress.
8 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.”
9 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.

10 I spoke to the prophets;
    it was I who multiplied visions,
    and through the prophets gave parables.
11 If 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.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
    there Israel served for a wife,
    and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13 By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt,
    and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
    so his LORD will leave his bloodguilt on him
    and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.

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The northern kingdom of Ephraim continues to seek to make treaties  with Assyria and Egypt.  Egypt will take their resources and fail to defend them and Assyria will take their resources and will end up attacking them and taking them into exile.  Be careful about seeking alliances with godless people and nations in personal relationships, business relationships, and on a national scale if your influence reaches that far.  "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers."  Also watch out for people that only want to take and never intend to give anything back in return.

Now the LORD switches His attention to Judah.  Though He has spent most of his time indicting the northern kingdom (called Israel, Samaria, or Ephraim), the LORD is going to speak to the southern kingdom.  It starts with a retelling of the history of their father Jacob (and an implication that they are not that different from him--they too need an encounter with God that changes their identity).

The things the LORD told them were abominations are the very things they do--false balances (weights and measures) used to steal from those who go tot he market place to make purchases.  Riches will not bring peace, rest or satisfaction, especially when those riches are obtained through evil means.  There will always be concern that someone will find you out and want to get even with you.  You will be concerned that others will treat you the same way you have treated them.  History is going to repeat itself and the people of God will once again be sojourners like they were at the time of the Exodus from Egypt.

The LORD gave many visions to many prophets to warn His people, but they ignored them all.  We are back to comparing the descendants of Jacob to Jacob and how he fled to his uncle for safety from his brother, despising the promise that was made to him and looking for safety and security in those that he should have left behind.  His trust was in men and not the LORD.  The kingdoms of Israel and Judah are in a very similar place, but they too will be taken advantage of by those they look to for refuge.  Laban tried his best to trick the trickster by promising Rachel as Jacob's wife and instead giving him Leah, and making him work another seven years for Rachel.  Laban also changed Jacob's wages many times during the process, trying to take advantage of him and get the best deal for himself.  However, the LORD miraculously intervened to continue to bless Jacob, despite his wickedness, and the LORD forced Him to go back to the Land at just the right time before his family got completely caught up in the pagan culture of the people of Aram.  The people of Israel and Judah are repeating history, not learning from it.  The LORD wants to warn them to learn from their history so they don't have to repeat it.  If they do, He will have to repay them for their disgraceful deeds.