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When God's People Forsake His Ways
Text References: Hosea Chapter 4 & 5
Written by Minister Ivu Boniface
The Israelites were heavily involved in idolatry and a such they suffered desolation. Their idolatry led to wide spread sexual immorality. When people dismissed God, they are doomed to depraved lifestyles.
Chapter 4. "Ephraim is Joined to Idols"
Idolatry is the source of their horrible crimes (1–3).
Priests feed the sins of the people (4–10).
The young women are harlots, married women entertain other men; the men go apart with prostitutes (vs. 11–14). Judah (vs. 15), had not sunk as deep into idolatry as Israel had, and was spared for about 100 years after Israel was destroyed. Ephraim (vs. 17), being the largest and most central of the Northern Tribes, became a name for the whole Northern Kingdom.
“The wind” (vs. 19), had already wrapped the sinful nation in its wings to bear it away to another land, a most striking metaphor. “Beth-aven” (vs. 15), another name for Bethel the main Idol sanctuary of the Northern Kingdom.
Chapter 5. "Ephraim shall Become a Desolation"
Priests, king and people are “revolters” against God (vs. 1–3).
Steeped in sin, and proud of it, “their doings would not allow them to turn to God” (vs. 4–5).
“Strange children” (vs. 7), that is, by women other than husbands. “Content to walk after man’s command” (vs. 11), referring to the ordinances which Jeroboam I had “devised out of his own heart,” when he first established the Northern Kingdom.
Lessons for Christians Today
1. Rejecting God’s Knowledge Leads to Destruction.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (4 v.6)
When God’s Word is neglected, people fall into sin, confusion, and spiritual ruin. Christians today must prioritize knowing God through His Word, seeking truth, and living by His principles. A church or nation that ignores God’s truth invites moral decay and divine judgment.
2. Idolatry and Immorality Go Hand in Hand
“The spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray…” (4 v.12)
“Ephraim is joined to idols…” (4 v.17)
Turning away from God often leads to embracing false gods, whether literal idols or modern equivalents like wealth, pleasure, or fame. Christians must guard their hearts, keeping God first and resisting anything that competes with His rightful place.
3. Religious Activity Without Repentance Is Useless
“With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.” (5 v.6). The people continued their religious rituals, but their hearts were far from God. This shows that external religion without genuine repentance and obedience is meaningless. Christians today must ensure that worship is authentic, rooted in a repentant and obedient heart, not just in outward form.
4. Pride and Human Solutions Cannot Replace God’s Help
“Then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb; Yet he cannot cure you…” (v.13). Instead of turning to God, Israel looked to foreign powers for help. But no human effort could solve their spiritual crisis. Likewise, Christians must not rely on worldly wisdom or prideful independence, but humbly seek God’s face in times of trouble and need.
Conclusion: Deacons are servants of the Church who are involved in handling the physical responsibilities of the Church. They should lead other Christians in offering relevant services in the Church.
