They Sin More and More

Hos 13:1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

Ephraim (Israel) trembled when they realized that they were dead in their sins and facing judgment. Often though people will exalt themselves placing humanity or science or some other idol as a right. It may be a right to them, but it is not right to a righteous God, to sin and worship Baal. Because of this they would die in their sins.

Hos 13:2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

They were totally given over to the worship of Baal, kissing the calf idols. This literally reads "sacrificers of men kiss calves". The Bible speaks of child sacrifice by worshipping the god Molech. There may have been human sacrifices to Baal as well. We call it abortion in our time.

Lev 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

They made idols of silver and kissed the calf. Can we compare this to a people worshipping a bull market? Making idols of their silver and gold. Gold currently sells for $1600 an ounce, showing how the dollar is failing and how people kiss their silver and gold for security. Well kiss it goodbye for we had better kiss the Son of God instead.

Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Judas betrayed the Son of God with a kiss, loving silver more than the Lord.

Luk 22:48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

Mat 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Mat 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Judas like Ephraim had gone too far and had to face imminent death. If you feel you have gone too far into sin, repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and a new life. Open your heart and eyes to Jesus who came to save you and all who will believe in him.

Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Hos 13:3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
Hos 13:4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Our life is like a vapor in comparison to eternity. The God of Israel sent his Son Jesus to be your savior from sin and death; he is our savior.

Luk 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hos 13:5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

Hos 13:6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

The LORD met their needs in the wilderness and established them in the promise land. Prosperity and ease had turned their hearts away from obedience and the worship of their true God. We hear so much on prosperity and the spirit. Be careful less ye turn from the LORD God of Israel unto prosperity gods of the people around you. Beware also that you not forget Jesus in your spirit talk. Some are leaving God and Jesus, the Bible and truth for the words of other spirits. Seeking higher and higher levels, but not after their God who gave them all truth and good things.

Psa 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Hos 13:7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
Hos 13:8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

Israel had left the safety of their LORD and the LORD was forced to stalk them as wild beasts, to repay them for their choices. They walked in danger. This is the LORD of the old covenant who has given us grace through his Son Jesus, by the New Covenant of faith.

Leopards, bears, lions, all are under the dominion of God. The children of God had become children of satan. The unruly parents often raise unruly children. Do not offend God or his servants. The following story of Elijah is for our learning.

2Ki 2:23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
2Ki 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

Perhaps if a multitude of children come at you in hostility, or a youth gang in an inner city, then you may call on the name of Jesus. We are now in the age of grace. Elijah had power to call bears and even fire from heaven, but in this time we are sent to save people from the coming judgment. An example of this change was when James and John wanted to send fire down on those who would not receive Jesus in Samaria, but Jesus rebuked them.

Luk 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luk 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luk 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

The spirit of Jesus seeks to save and not to destroy.

Hos 13:9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
Hos 13:10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
Hos 13:11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.

Jehovah is the God of Israel and also their king. When they demanded a king like the other nations they received Saul. There is no king like the Lord and no king like Jesus his son. You trust Jesus for he will not lie to you. Evil men will try to rule from satan's power, but our Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God is greater.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Hos 13:12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
Hos 13:13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

As a woman in travail ready to give birth to a new life, Israel stubbornly refuses the new life with God by faith because he will not forsake his sins; by doing this he opposed his own salvation.

2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Hos 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

The LORD was willing to deliver them from death and the power of the grave. He would come in Jesus to die in our place to save us from sin and death.

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hos 13:15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

With the LORD's compassion removed, Israel's prosperity would come to an end. He would come in judgment as a hot and dry east wind would come drying out everything in it's path.. The Assyrians would invade like the east wind sent from the LORD.

Hos 13:16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

The LORD would keep his covenant promise to Israel. They had caused him to come against them.

Lev 26:23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;
Lev 26:24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
Lev 26:25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

No people can live for long in prosperity ignoring the God of Israel. His grace is in his Son, the Lord Jesus christ.

1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Believe in Jesus, depart from sin and be saved.