Why Trade Everything for Nothing?
Ephraim is oppressed because he was determined to go after vanity. (Hosea 5:11)
Hos. 5:1-12; Job 15:31 and 31:5-8; Jer. 2:5; John 6:27; Acts 14:15
What Is God Saying?
Israel, also called Ephraim (the largest and most central of the Northern tribes), set up a kingdom of its own with deep hostility toward the two tribes in the south. The great days of David and Solomon were past. The Northern tribes basked for a while in the afterglow of success, but dark clouds were gathering on the horizon. Sin and idolatry were the order of the day. The glory was rapidly departing. Elijah and Elisha were sent to warn the rebellious nation but they remained obdurate and determined to go their way. Still, God yearned for their return. He sent Hosea to plead with them, ‘How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?’ (Hos. 11:8) These strong, tender words from the Lord are deeply moving, ‘When Israel was a child I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the more they went. from me’ (11: 1- 2). Hosea called upon Israel to repent. They might yet be spared, even though ‘loving shame more than glory’ ( 4.18), their fate seemed to be sealed. ‘The wind’ had wrapped them in its wings (4:18) to carry them off to captivity. That is why Hosea says, ‘Ephraim is oppressed because he is determined to go after vanity. Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird’ (9:11). He is giving up everything for nothing.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Ephraim's determined choice to spurn the yearning love of God and to look for help from other sources could easily translate to today. Now, as then, nations and individuals are still trading everything for nothing. Morality with its harvest of joy, fulfillment, and security is disdained. We are still giving up everything for nothing, yet God still yearns for our return.
Pray With Me
Were it not for Your intervening grace, dear Lord, along with others, I would be determined to go after vanity. The disposition to do so is always there. When the wise restraint of Your love is brushed aside, my inner bent surfaces and leads me into trouble. As with Ephraim, when I go after vanity, I find oppression. When I walk away from the riches of Your favor, I walk into the poverty of pride. When I turn from the freedom of Your will, I ask for the bondage of sin's control.
In Your great compassion, Lord, come into my heart to take and keep control. Help me to be as determined to go after truth and to know your will as I have been determined to go after vanity. Let me always heed Your Word. Keep my feet walking, in Your way.
Oppression is the fruit of vanity. Freedom is the fruit of faith. I am determined to see and act upon that. Let me not be brought, as Israel was, to the saturation point of sorrow before I recognize the things that will make for real freedom of soul and peace of heart. Satisfy me with Your goodness. I claim the promise that ‘they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.’ In the conquering name of Jesus, I declare my independence from vanity's oppression. I enter into the peace and the joy of His fellowship. Going after Him, I will have neither time nor desire to go after vanity. Being filled with the glory of His love, there will be no room for the debris of wanton desires. Make this, Lord, a constant reality to the praise of Your glory and power.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Let God show us in prayer that the fruit of vanity is bondage (oppression) while the fruit of faith is freedom. Prayer is making a deliberate choice to keep everything of God's promises and love while letting go of the nothingness of everything else.
