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"When Ephraim spoke, trembling"

Text: Hosea 13:1

REMEMBERING THE PAST

Many deep and invaluable lessons may be learned as the past is recollected. 1 Kings 11-12 tell the story of a man from Ephraim, who came out of humble beginnings to become the first king of the Northern kingdom.

“When Ephraim spoke, trembling,
He exalted himself in Israel;
But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.”
Hosea 13:1

1. “When Ephraim spoke, trembling”

a) There was a time when Ephraim was humble.

b) This may well be a reference to Jeroboam.

i) He was from Ephraim.

ii) His mother was a widow.

iii) He came from a humble background.

c) Solomon wanted to arrest him.

d) He fled to Egypt.

2. “He exalted himself in Israel”

a) This is not self-exaltation.

b) It was God who exalted him.

c) God spoke to him through a prophet called Ahijah.

d) The LORD would entrust 10 tribes who would form the new kingdom of Israel in the North.

3. “But when he offended through Baal worship, he died”

a) When Jeroboam became king, his heart changed.

b) He desperately wanted to safeguard his kingship for himself and his sons.

c) He decided that he would create his own religious system different from that of Judah.

i) He made golden calves.

ii) He pursued the worship of Baal.

iii) He made priests out of anyone who wanted to serve at his shrines.

iv) He promoted idolatry strongly.

v) He had become unfaithful.

d) “He died”

i) He died spiritually.

ii) He caused Israel to walk on a path that would provoke God to great anger.