12.09.2015 Old Testament: Hos 2.6–8

To read the Bible in a year, read Hosea 1–4 on December 9, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

The Lord worked with Israel to bring the nation to Him, doing whatever was necessary to help them to seek Him again, including hedging up their way,

“Therefore, behold,
I will hedge up your way with thorns,
And wall her in,
So that she cannot find her paths.
She will chase her lovers,
But not overtake them;
Yes, she will seek them, but not find them.
Then she will say,
‘I will go and return to my first husband,
For then it was better for me than now.’
For she did not know
That I gave her grain, new wine, and oil,
And multiplied her silver and gold—
Which they prepared for Baal.”
(Hosea 2.6–8) 

Not knowing the source of their blessings, Israel turned to Baal, but when the Lord hedged up the way of His people, making it difficult to return to her spiritual lovers, that turned the nation back to Him.