Bible History
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3. He--Jacob, contrasted with his degenerate descendants, called by
his name, Jacob
(Ho 12:2;
compare
Mic 2:7).
He took Esau by the heel in the womb in order to obtain, if
possible, the privileges of the first-born
(Ge 25:22-26),
whence he took his name, Jacob, meaning "supplanter"; and again, by his
strength, prevailed in wrestling with God for a blessing
(Ge 32:24-29);
whereas ye disregard My promises, putting your confidence in idols and
foreign alliances. He conquered God, ye are the slaves
of idols. Only have Jehovah on your side, and ye are stronger than
Edom, or even Assyria. So the spiritual Israel lays hold of the heel of
Jesus, "the First-born of many brethren," being born again of the Holy
Spirit. Having no right in themselves to the inheritance, they lay hold
of the bruised heel, the humanity of Christ crucified, and let not go
their hold of Him who is not, as Esau, a curse
(Heb 12:16, 17),
but, by becoming a curse for us, is a blessing to us.
power with God--referring to his name, "Israel," prince of
God, acquired on that occasion (compare
Mt 11:12).
As the promised Canaan had to be gained forcibly by Israel, so heaven
by the faithful
(Re 3:21;
compare
Lu 13:24).
"Strive," literally, "as in the agony of a contest." So the Canaanitess
(Mt 15:22).
his strength--which lay in his conscious weakness, whence, when his
thigh was put out of joint by God, he hung upon Him. To seek strength
was his object; to grant it, God's. Yet God's mode of procedure was
strange. In human form He tries as it were to throw Jacob down. When
simple wrestling was not enough, He does what seems to ensure Jacob's
fall, dislocating his thigh joint, so that he could no longer stand. Yet
it was then that Jacob prevailed. Thus God teaches us the irresistible
might of conscious weakness. For when weak in ourselves, we are strong
by His strength put in us
(Job 23:6;
Isa 27:5;
2Co 12:9, 10).
JFB.
The Book of Hosea
Hosea 8:7-9 - For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
Hosea 14:9 - Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
The Old Testament - A Brief Overview
Bible Survey - Hosea
Hebrew Name - Hoshea "Salvation"
Greek Name - Osee (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author - Hosea (According to Tradition)
Date - 785 BC Approximately
Theme - The apostasy of Israel
Types and Shadows - In Hosea Jesus is the faithful husband
The prophet Hosea had a real-life situation that God used to illustrate his problem with the nation of Israel. Hosea's adulterous wife had broken his heart, and this is exactly what the children of Israel had done to God when they played the harlot with other gods. Later when her adulterous affairs had led her to be sold on the slave block, Hosea was willing to buy her back for he could not give her up. This dramatically illustrated Israel's situation for soon they would be conquered by the Assyrians and then sold into slavery because they had forgotten their God. The prophet Hosea spoke about a future blessing in which God will restore Israel. - The above text is © Rusty Russell - Bible History Online and must be sourced for use on a website.
My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him. "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? . . . My heart churns within Me; my sympathy is stirred. . . "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him." Hosea 11:7-8, 14:4
The prophet Hosea was commanded by God to marry a wife of harlotry because Israel hath committed great harlotry. He was sent by God to prophesy about the northern King of Israel. Hosea ministered to Israel for a great length of time (over 50 years), and they were his primary target although he does mention four kings of Judah (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah). The northern kingdom of Israel was enjoying tremendous prosperity during the reign of Jeroboam II, yet when he died various kings came to the throne for a brief period of time and then many were assassinated. The problem with the northern kingdom was that they were idolaters, and every one of their kings were evil whether they prospered or not. The people were making sacrifices on heathen altars, adultery was prevalent, and ritualistic prostitution abounded. Hosea attributed their wretchedness to a lack of knowledge, not a lack of intellectual knowledge, but lacking a relationship with the living God. Yet God loves his people with an everlasting love in spite of their corruption.
The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows :
Outline of the Book of Hosea
In Hosea 1-3, the faithless actions of Israel toward God are illustrated by the relationship between Hosea and his adultress wife, Gomer. The names of his children indicate the attitude of God toward Israel. The first is named "Jezreel" after the city which was the scene of Jehu's brutality and which signified that God would punish his people. Lo-Ruhamah (Not pitied) and Lo-Ammi (Not my people) are the names given to the two other children, signifying the estrangement which was the inevitable result of the actions of Israel. God's love is illustrated in Hosea's willingness to buy his wife back from the practice of harlotry - though she could not continue in her harlotry while he was with her.
The second division of the prophecy, found in Hosea 4-14, presents a detailed picture of the depths of depravity to which Israel had gone, with alternating passages of reproof, threats of punishment, and assurances of restoration.
Hosea Resources
The Divided Kingdom
The
Northern Kingdom of Israel
The
Southern Kingdom of Judah
The Assyrian Captivity
The Babylonian Captivity
The Return From Babylon
The Prophets
The Messiah
The Book of Hosea
More About the Book of
Hosea
Hosea in the Picture
Study Bible
Chart of the Prophets of Israel and Judah
Timeline of the Ancient
World
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