Hosea 8-14

[wolfpurplemoon]

God is annoyed that the people appointed kings without checking with him first, how were they supposed to do that?

God is so annoyed he will ironically punish the fertility worshippers with infertility. He's a funny guy like that.

How can anyone think this God is worth following, he can't even keep his thoughts straight, he's decided that Israel is actually really loveable and he can't punish them at all, he still wants them trembling in fear though. And by the end of Hosea he's back to showing no compassion.

God is really hating pregnant women and young children in this book, he says that infants will be killed by swords and pregnant women ripped open, I guess he's for certain abortions then...

Comments

[zteccc.livejournal.com]

Israel's (the Northern Kingdom's) rejection of God is detailed. God states that even though they offer sacrifices, those sacrifices are sins because they did not follow the instructions for sacrifices and have instead made the sacrifices a mockery (the general thought would be something like "I'll do whatever I want and then offer a sacrifice so God will have to forgive me." as opposed to "I'll try to follow the law and on the occasions when I sin, I'll offer sacrifices to show my penitent heart."
It wasn't about doing the sacrifice, it was the attitude.

Israel will face exile (remember this is at least 70 years prior to the fall of Samaria and 120 years prior to the fall of Jerusalem).

The idols set up by Jeroboam I when he split the kingdom, will be taken by the king of Assyria and Israel will be disgraced for worshiping an idol (because an idol is nothing more than a hunk of rock or metal).

Even though God took Israel out of Egypt, and even though God gave the Israelites victories over all of the people in Canaan, the Israelites turned to idols and even back to Egypt rather than to God, so now Assyria will conquer them. After a while, though, God will call them back from the places where they've been exiled.

Israel claims that they accomplished their prosperity on their own (without God's help). God wants them to remember the truth, that God was there throughout their struggles and growth and without God's blessing, they will fall. Israel has ignored the prophets sent before, so now God will send prophets warning of doom for Israel.

A plea is put forth for Israel to return to God's covenant. God promises to bless Israel if they do return to the covenant, give up their idols and their sin.

Hosea, like Jeremiah, was a prophet for the reign of several kings (about seven kings). The repetition is due largely to his trying to convince each king to return to the covenant. Again, the theme of returning to the covenant is similar to other prophets. Hosea's prophecies of an Assyrian conquest did indeed come true, and they did so well after Hosea's death.

Remember Samuel and how the people came to him and said they wanted a king, and he prayed and God told him to tell the people that God did not want them to have a king at that time? That's how they were supposed to check.

[zteccc.livejournal.com]

Just curious. If a reporter reports the graphic details of an invading army brutally killing civilians, is the reporter the one who was hating the civilians?

God gave a prophecy to Hosea. Hosea passes on the prophecy to the people. It was neither Hosea, nor God who killed the women and infants, it was the Assyrians. God knew what they would do with their free will. God wanted to spare the Israelites from this, which is why he sent the warning. The Israelites didn't listen.

[wolfpurplemoon]

The difference between God and a reporter is that the reporter is writing about events after they happen and God is apparently telling the people about them before they are supposed to happen and if everything written about him is true then he surely has the power to stop them, I don't think even a reporter who observed events like that first hand would be able to stop them happening.

[zteccc.livejournal.com]

Granted, God has the power, and God will use the power if, as the warning states, the people will willingly return to the covenant. God is not going to force either blessings or calamity on the people, instead God allows them to choose their own path. God knows what will occur, but it is still their choice. As such, it isn't God who wants the babies and women to suffer, it is the result of their free will choice.

-- Jeff

You're right

[k2rider78.livejournal.com]

this god does contradict himself.
Have you ever checked out Mr. Diety?
http://www.mrdeity.com/

Re: You're right

[wolfpurplemoon]

Oh yes, I love Mr. Deity! It all makes sense if God is easily confused and disorganised like Mr. Deity.

Re: You're right

[hypatiaslore.livejournal.com]

I can't remember if I've ever told you how much I adore your dancing Darwin...

I really love him.

Re: You're right

[hypatiaslore.livejournal.com]

I just checked him out. He's hilarious! I just signed up for his newsletter.

[kimi warren (from livejournal.com)]

I don't want to sound rude, but I believe you are missing the point. I don't think this passage is bout how contraditoring God is, it is about how messed up the human race had become. God's people betrayed him over and over and over again, so he was filled with rage. He was just venting his anger to his people. Then God looks again and sees how much he loves his people, us. That is what Hosea is about. I see it as God doesn't just give people second chances, he forgives us as long as we still love him in return. God just wants his people to understand that he is the true God and there is no one else like him and just how much we really are loved.

On the abortion subject, all God wanted to do was hurt the society and make them understand that he is serious. It would be like a mother threatening to take a child's toy. I don't think God is for abortion; he is just trying to punish his children.