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"Ephraim provoked Him to anger"

Text: Hosea 12:14

GOD HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO BLESS THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

God had given a covenant to Abraham. He confirmed His covenant relationship with both Isaac and Jacob. However, Israel had not been faithful to the LORD their God.

“By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,
And by a prophet he was preserved.
Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly;
Therefore his LORD will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him,
And return his reproach upon him.”
Hosea 12:13-14

1. “By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt”

a) That prophet was Moses.

b) He was God’s man of the hour.

c) He was an outstanding and faithful prophet.

2. “And by a prophet he was preserved”

a) Moses was that prophet who interceded for Israel.

b) The LORD spared Israel from iniquity, sin and transgression.

3. “Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly”

a) Ephraim is a reference to Israel as a nation.

b) Israel had sinned grievously against the Lord.

i) It had turned its back against God.

ii) It had become idolatrous.

iii) It had refused to listen to the LORD who spoke by the prophets.

4. “Therefore his LORD will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him”

a) Israel committed many iniquities.

b) These sins had not been repented of.

c) They were swift to shed blood.

d) The nation was adjudged guilty.

5. “And return his reproach upon him”

a) Those who were wronged took up a reproach against Israel.

b) The prophets like Hosea could have and did in fact appeal to Israel to return to God humbly.

c) But Israel had rejected all the efforts and messages of God’s prophets.

d) Israel would have to bear the shame and the consequences of their foolish and wicked activities.