Hosea 7

The Explanation

Hosea is a prophet who lives in a difficult time. The people of Israel say they belong to God, but their daily life shows something completely different. In this chapter, God speaks through Hosea and He does not mince words. He says: I want to heal my people, but every time I come close, I see how much is wrong.

God uses a striking image: an oven. Bakers in that time had a big clay oven that they heated overnight. In the morning the fire flared up hot. God says: that is what the hearts of my people look like. They burn, but not with love for me. They burn with anger, with lust for power, with lies. On the king's birthday, the leaders drink themselves sick. They laugh with mockers, people who make fun of God.

Then God says something almost sad: "Ephraim is a pancake not turned over." Ephraim is another name for Israel. A pancake that is not turned is burnt black on the bottom and still raw on top. That is how the people are: half-heartedly with God, and half with all kinds of other things. They mix themselves with the nations around them and slowly they lose their strength, without even noticing.

And then this image: "Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding." A dove that flies confusedly this way and that. Sometimes they fly to Egypt for help, sometimes to Assyria. Anywhere, as long as it is not to God Himself. When trouble comes, they do cry out, but "not with their heart," God says. They howl on their beds because they want grain and wine, not because they miss God.

God's conclusion is painful: "Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me." He wanted to save them. But they keep turning away.

What Does This Mean?

This chapter shows how God looks at a heart that is divided. It is not that the people have completely forgotten God. They still go to the temple sometimes. They still call His name when things go wrong. But their heart is like that pancake: half done. And God says honestly that this hurts Him.

That God is honest about it is actually a good thing. He does not pretend nothing is wrong. He also does not simply give up on His people. He keeps speaking, keeps warning, keeps calling. That itself is a sign of love. A God who no longer cared would say nothing at all.

The Common Thread

Throughout the whole Bible, God searches for people whose heart is really turned toward Him. Not half. Not a pancake burnt on one side. That search leads eventually to Jesus. Jesus once said: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart." He knew people cannot do this on their own. That is why He came Himself. He was completely turned toward His Father, right until the cross. And He gives His Spirit so that our divided heart can slowly become whole.

The dove that flies confusedly this way and that in Hosea, will later, at Jesus' baptism, appear again as the sign of God's Spirit coming to rest. What was confused, God brings home.

For You

You probably know that feeling of being divided. You want to be nice, and yet you snap at your sister. You want to pray, and you forget. You know something is not okay, but you do it anyway because everyone else does. That is being a pancake not turned over. It is very human.

The good news of this chapter is hidden in the first verse: "When I would heal Israel." God wants to heal. He does not primarily want to punish, He wants to make whole. What you can do is exactly what the people did not do: cry to Him with your heart. Not just when you want something, but also just to tell Him honestly how you are. Even about the part that is still raw.

Talk About It

What do you think God means when He says the people call to Him, but not with their heart? How can you notice the difference in yourself?

Why do you think it is easier to run to "Egypt or Assyria," things other than God, when you have a problem?

Praying Together

Lord, sometimes I am like that pancake, half turned toward You and half toward other things. Thank You that You do not give up on me. Turn my heart, so that I really come to You, with everything. Amen.