Like Grapes in the Wilderness – Hosea 9:10-17

The judgment of Yahweh’s words sounds harsh for Israel.  Would He do similar harsh things to His church if they persist in foolishness and idolatry?  Evangelicalism had glorious days until it began aligning itself with the Moral Majority (Jerry Falwell) and a social gospel of political right wing-ism.  We thought it gave us muscle to make sweeping changes in our political landscape.  We could avoid trusting God, praying, evangelizing, because we valued human souls less than social change.  The grapes in the wilderness dried up.

Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel.  Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers.  But they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.  Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird—no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!  Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them till none is left.  Woe to them when I depart from them!  Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palm planted in a meadow; but Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.  Give them, O LORD—what will you give?  Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them.  Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house.  I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels.

Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit.  Even though they give birth, I will put their beloved children to death.  My God will reject them because they have not listened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations.  (Hosea 9:10-17 ESV)

Israel was God’s beautiful treasure in those first days but now she has given herself over to another husband, Baal, and her glory has departed.  Her fertility will become sterility until there are no more young.  The palm tree will be bereft.

The idolatrous worship center of Gilgal is despised and for their adultery God will divorce Israel.  No more children will she bear and she will become a wanderer.  If only she had listened to Him.

God does not let us go into rebellion without speaking to and warning us, giving us an opportunity to repent.