HOSEA 2
8 And she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. 9 Therefore I will take back
my grain in its time, and my wine in its season, and I will take away my wool and my flax,
which were to cover her nakedness. 10 Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of my hand. 11 And I will put an end to all her mirth, her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths, and all her appointed feasts. 12 And I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, ‘These are my wages, which my lovers have given me.’ I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall devour them.13 And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals when she burned offerings to them and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the Lord. – Hosea 2:8-13
HOSEA 2 AFTERMATH OF IDOLATRY
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When the people of God begin to worship other gods
They will be unable to recognize God’s provision and love
They are blinded by their idols and they become lifeless
Idolatry strips them of the fulfillment of their covenant promise
Unfaithfulness to your beloved one is going to bring ruin
It will create chaos and confusion between the two parties.
In this account, God lays down the aftermath of Israel’s idolatry. In verse 8, the Israelites forgot that everything they have was from God. They became blind to see that even their gold and silver and all their riches came from their Lord. Instead, they used it to worship Baal. In verse 9, God retrieves back all that he had provided for them and in verse 10 God will expose her adultery to shame her. In verse 11, he will hinder them from celebrating their festivals and in verse 12, God won’t provide a good harvest for them and they will be punished for a burnt offering given to Baal instead of to Him.
We can see how such a big deal it was for God when his wife (the Israelites) became unfaithful and served other gods. Let us remember that the Lord won’t take lightly any competition against him. There is no one like him. He is the One true living God.
REFLECTION
- Share insights how the aftermath of adultery affects the unfaithful believer.
