Like Adam

Just like Adam

Sinful deeds

Adam had everything he needed from God. He had sinless communion with God. God joined Adam to Himself in a covenant relationship.

And what God required to remain in this relationship was obedience to His word. And we know that Adam disobeyed and as a result received God’s judgement.

Israel has essentially done the same thing. Israel has received the promises of God. They are the covenant people of God, God is saying in Hosea, and He requires obedience, but they have disobeyed.

Romans 9:4–5 ESV

4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

And as we have seen in our study of Hosea so far, Israel has rejected the truth. Rejected the law.

Hosea 4:1 ESV

1 Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land;

Hosea 4:6 ESV

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Hosea 5:11 ESV

11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth.

Empty Religion

They commit these wicked acts. Even the priests are commiting these acts.

Hosea 6:9 ESV

9 As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy.

They do these things , but then say let’s return to the Lord.

Hosea 6:4 ESV

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.

They continued to make sacrifices to the Lord and burnt offerings to the Lord.

Hosea 6:6 ESV

6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Their hypocrisy is summarized well in 7:14:

Hosea 7:14 ESV

14 They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me.

They gash themselves which is part of Baal worship. It was an effort to show sincerity.

Breathtaking Ignorance

Hosea 7:9 ESV

9 Strangers devour his strength, and he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not.

Grey hairs are sprinkled upon him…. means they are moving towards death.

They have no idea.

Hosea 7:11 ESV

11 Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.

They have no clue. Sin has blinded them to their own absurdity.

And this absurdity is evident in their pride:

Hosea 7:10 ESV

10 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this.

Pharaoh is a good example of this pride.

The people of Israel claimed to return to the Lord, but they do not seek Him. They want God’s blessings on their terms.

This is what the Lord thinks of their claim to return:

Hosea 7:16 ESV

16 They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow; their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

Judged Like Adam

It’s not like you haven’t been warned

So what does God do in response?

Hosea 6:4–5 ESV

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. 5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.

God’s word has made it clear what will happen if they disobey Him.