I always stop and go back to read a phrase that is written more than once. Usually, it has something important attached, and today’s reading is no different.
Twice, Hosea speaks these words God tells him to speak, “But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” These sentences are read in Hosea 12:9 and in 13:4 while also being implied earlier in Hosea 11:1 when he said, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”
Reading through these chapters we get the picture of an obstinate and rebellious youth who has strayed far off the narrow path he was shown to walk. In Hosea 11:1 we read that he is right where he wants to be, for “… the more I called Israel, the further they went from me.” Yet, the heart of God is seen again in Hosea 12:9 and 10 when God says, “I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed feasts. I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.” Here God seems to be saying, I want to take care of you as I did when you were utterly dependent on me. He reminds them of his past provision and the feasts that were theirs. He also communicates his desire to speak to them through God-appointed men. God wanted the people to hear Him and know Him and used these prophets and parables to communicate that.
Reading further, I am reminded of the lessons Israel learned while living in desert tents and the cause of their departure from the Truth Giver. Hosea 13:5 says, “I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” (bold mine) Does that wrench your heart as it does mine? We are not far from acting like Israel. How easy is it for us to be satisfied with all God has given us and respond by turning away from Him?
I pray that I may never be satisfied with the things of this world (the tents, the robes, the gold, the feasts) but find full satisfaction in God alone. As Jesus said, in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” According to the Savior’s words, our satisfaction is directly related to the greatness of our hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Today, how satisfied are we? If the answer is “not very”, maybe we are hungering and thirsting after the wrong things.
The Bible in a Year 