#GeraldsDevotional Israel’s Sin Is in His Nature

In today’s chapter, God continues to reminisce over Israel’s youth. As He reflects back on these very familiar themes and events that date back to the very birth of Israel (Jacob), we see that sin and deceit has been part of his nature since before the nation was even born.

So when the nation is doing all of the things that God has been describing throughout this book, the message today is that they do what they do because they can’t help it. They are doing that which is in their nature. Remember that Israel’s name at the time of His birth was that

of “the Deceiver.” But even during that time when Jacob was struggling in the womb with deceit, God told His mother that there were two nations wrestling within her womb. Even then the Lord knew that both of these nations were sinful and would betray Him. But one of them would

see something that the other would not. One would ultimately understand his need for God’s blessing and forgiveness and the other would not. God sees through us all. He already knows what is truly in our hearts and we can not deceive Him. He knows from where we have come and to

where we are going. Never the less He loves us each (in spite of our sinful nature). This is what He says in the last verse of chapter 11 and then in all of chapter 12 of the book of Hosea: Charges against Israel and Judah 12 Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit, but Judah

still obeys God and is faithful to the Holy One. Chapter 12 1 The people of Israel feed on the wind; they chase after the east wind all day long. They pile up lies and violence; they are making an alliance with Assyria while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt.

2 Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah. He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways, and pay him back for all he has done. 3 Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. 4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel

and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him— 5 the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the Lord is his name! 6 So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him.

7 But no, the people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales— they love to cheat. 8 Israel boasts, “I am rich! I’ve made a fortune all by myself! No one has caught me cheating! My record is spotless!” 9 “But I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in

Egypt. And I will make you live in tents again, as you do each year at the Festival of Shelters. 10 I sent my prophets to warn you with many visions and parables.” 11 But the people of Gilead are worthless because of their idol worship. And in Gilgal, too, they sacrifice bulls;

their altars are lined up like the heaps of stone along the edges of a plowed field. 12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and there he earned a wife by tending sheep. 13 Then by a prophet the Lord brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt; and by that prophet they were protected.

14 But the people of Israel have bitterly provoked the Lord, so their Lord will now sentence them to death in payment for their sins. - Hosea 11:12-12:14 @threadreaderapp unroll