My Children, Come Home

We have multiple examples of people in the New Testament, who, after going down the wrong road because of wrong choices, and finally made a deliberate decision to return home. Probably the most famous example is that of the prodigal son. He had everything a person could possibly want or need in his home life, yet he chose to go his own way. He ended up squandering all that he had. Finally, he came to the conclusion that he’d rather be lower than his father’s servants and still be under his father’s care. Of course, we remember that his father accepted him back with wide open, loving arms.

We read a little further along in the New Testament and we come to an individual named Saul. He actually thought he was doing exactly what the Lord wanted him to do. And part of what his zealous activity was that of killing Christians. His reasoning was that he felt that they were promoting Jesus, who Paul felt was opposed to the Law and to Paul’s understanding of the way of righteousness. But, surprise!—the Lord got ahold of him, and Saul genuinely repented. God changed his name to Paul and used him in great power.

Sadly, not everyone who went astray, actually came back home. Going to the book of Acts, we read about Ananias and Sapphira. Here were two individuals who had experienced the good things of being a part of a local fellowship of Christians. Unfortunately, they made a choice to act deceptively. When opportunity came for them to repent, they continued with their lies. Then, we read about how the Lord dealt swiftly with them, making them an example for many churches. When we reflect on this situation, one wonders how many of our churches would have fewer in attendance if God would be dealing the same way today.

We see throughout the Bible, our Lord pleads with His children to come home. However, pride seems to always be a major stumbling block to humanity. Many would rather save face with others whom they associate with during the week. Ideally, they should respond in genuine repentance with the One Who will one day demand an account. Our Lord is still saying to the Israelites, as well as to us, My children, come home. You will notice that God never forces us to return; it’s left as a choice to us.

As Christians, we must deal with sin completely and embrace the One Who forgives sinners.

The Way Home Is Not Through Deception - 11:12 -12:1

In these verses, Israel is again accused of lies and deceit and unruliness against God. This is exactly what was destroying Judah’s faithfulness to God, as well.

Israel was pursuing friendship and help from a nation that would no more help her than if one were to expect the desert winds from the east to produce rain for crops. In fact, instead of helping Israel, this nation would blast Israel, consuming everything in its destructive power.

But Israel’s deceptiveness wasn’t just towards God. They were deceptive even towards the nation with whom they had made a treaty. In 2 Kings 17:3-6, we read that the king of Israel was actually a traitor and had stopped paying tribute to the Assyrian king. Not only that, but Israel’s king had sent people and goods to Egypt.

You can almost hear God say, My children, come home. But instead of Israel coming home, they were intent on continuing going the wrong way, which was definitely not the right way home. They were using deception and lies, which are not part of the makeup of God’s people. They were heading down a road that was going to be harsh and destructive. Does any of this sound familiar or relevant to you, my friend? If so, know this; God is still pleading with you to come home.

The Way Home Is Through Repentance. - 12:2-6

Hosea seems to interrupt his comments a bit, by suggesting that Israel look to their forefathers, in particular, Jacob. We might wonder why, until we think a little deeper.

We recall that Jacob was also a deceiver. Yet, He was able to obtain the power of God. How? He had to repent, and he eventually did. From the time when Jacob was born until the time he wrestled with the Angel, Jacob lived up to his name; deceiver, heel-follower. When Jacob grabbed the heel of his brother, we can reason that this was prophetic of going after his brother’s birthright and eventually stealing his father’s blessing.

But that all changed when Jacob struggled with God and kept wrestling, refusing to stop. Jacob seems to have always struggled for God’s blessing. He often pursued it through his own deceitful means. But there came a time when God got ahold of Jacob, teaching him to get God’s blessing in the right way; God’s way.

By means of this incident, God spoke to Jacob and to all future generations, as it were, through Jacob’s loins, according to Hebrews 7:9-10. Hosea then proclaims the Lord’s name in verse 5.

Hosea 12:5 NASB95

Even the Lord, the God of hosts, The Lord is His name.

You see, Israel had not merely rejected God by turning to objects that were man-made from wood and stone; she had turned away from the covenant-keeping, self-existent Lord. God had given His own memorial name to the descendants of Jacob. And the people of Israel were to praise the Name of the Lord only, never to share that praise with another.

Even on Jacob’s deathbed, he was able to testify to looking forward to the Lord’s salvation. In verse 6, Hosea pleads with Israel to wait upon the Lord and return to God.

Hosea 12:6 NASB95

Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.

Israel needed to go back to dealing with others in a right manner rather than continuing to rely upon deceit. Israel needed to go back home to the Lord, their God. They had tried everything else. They even followed after Jacob’s example, but only up to a certain point of being deceptive. They needed to go further—they needed to repent. Repentance is the way home.

The Way Home Is Through Properly Placed Love. - 12:7-14

Back when Israel entered Canaan, the promised land, they were specifically told to completely separate themselves from the practices of the people that they were to destroy because of the wickedness. Even then, they chose to go contrary to this instruction. Instead, they intermarried and made treaties, trying to set their own agenda. Israel then began to absorb the mentality of those from whom she was to be completely separated. Israel began to accumulate wealth by using corrupt business practices such as false balances and other means of deception and lying.

The problem was the fact that when prosperity did come, Israel looked at that as if it was a blessing from God. Therefore, their thinking was that nothing must be wrong with their methods, since they seemed to be blessed. The problem with this line of thinking is that monetary success has never been an accurate measurement of our condition before God. Today, it seems that we need a reminder about this. We cannot buy into the deceptive business dealings used by the world, thinking that financial success must be a sign that God smiles on our business savvy, when it’s really dishonesty. Just because everyone else, and even many Christians are doing this, it is not acceptable to God.

Verse 9 is basically saying, Who are you fooling?

Hosea 12:9 NASB95

But I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, As in the days of the appointed festival.

The people of Israel should have recognized that their land was a gift from God. Since Israel wouldn’t acknowledge the Lord, God was going to send them back into tents once again. This reference to being back in tents is to remind Israel of her many years of wandering and having no home of their own. In fact, there had been put into place a religious festival to remind them of this past; the Feast of Tabernacles. This would remind them of their wanderings because of disobedience.

So, captivity should not have really taken Israel by surprise. They had actually chosen to take their love away from the One who truly loved them. They had chosen to give their love to that which could not love back. God had done everything for them. God not only gave the love, He gave them direct instruction through the prophets, through parables. Yet, the people continued on in their sin.

In Verses 12-14, The contrast is given with the patriarch Jacob.

Hosea 12:12–14 NASB95

Now Jacob fled to the land of Aram, And Israel worked for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep. But by a prophet the Lord brought Israel from Egypt, And by a prophet he was kept. Ephraim has provoked to bitter anger; So his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him And bring back his reproach to him.

When Jacob deceived his father, he was forced to flee to Padan-aram for safety from his brother. Yes, Jacob received the blessing, but at what cost? Still, Jacob did not totally forsake the Lord. He even worked as a slave for 14 years, but he never rejected his loving Lord. Israel on the other hand, never worked for her freedom from slavery in Egypt, nor for the promised land. These were complete gifts from God. Still, she continued to reject God. That is why Israel was going to be responsible for her blood guilt. Blood guilt was caused by a variety of sins: robbery, bloodshed, adultery, oppression of the poor, dishonesty, idolatry, taking of excessive interest, etc. You can find this list in Ezekiel 18. If there was not proper repentance for the sin, justice would have to take place. If not, God would step in to avenge the wronged party.

There is something quite interesting here about the use of the word for Lord. Throughout Hosea, the word is usually translated Yahweh—the covenant-keeping God of redemption. Here we find one exception to that in verse 14. The Hebrew word for Lord, in this instance, is Adonai—my master. Now, because of Israel’s unfaithfulness and persistent sinning, she had rejected her redeemer and had instead found the Lord as her master who would judge and avenge her evil.

Israel’s love had been misplaced. Yet, God still tells all who have gone astray, My Children, come back. Come back to the one true God, instead of those false gods, who aren’t even gods. Let God be your redeemer, not your master who will judge and avenge and punish. Place your love where it belongs.

Conclusion

Hosea has taken some time to continue to show Israel where they were falling down and heading in the wrong direction. Yet there is the heartbeat of God’s mercy and love as if He is pleading, My children, come home. Verses 5-6 seems to be the essence of this plea.

Hosea 12:5–6 NASB95

Even the Lord, the God of hosts, The Lord is His name. Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.

A radio personality from years ago, Paul Harvey, tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of not returning to God, while choosing to enjoy a life of sin.

First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood.

Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder, the wolf licks the blade in the arctic night. So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his OWN warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more—until the dawn finds him dead in the snow!

It is a fearful thing to know that people can be consumed by their own lusts. This happens when people are willing to ignore all of God’s pleas and continue on in sin. Only by responding in repentance to God’s offer of grace can we be kept from the same fate of the wolf.

God is saying to all those who have accidentally or intentionally wandered away—My children, come home.

As Christians, we must deal with sin completely and embrace the One Who forgives sinners.