Basket of Figs

Published 2002-2

Bud Powell

Trinity Covenant RCUS, Colorado Springs

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Going After Her Lovers

For their mother hath played the harlot; she that conceived them hath done shamefully; for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.  Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she shall not find her paths.  And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.  For she did not know that I gave her the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied unto her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.  Hos. 2:5-8

Hosea had been told to marry a harlot, Gomer, with her illegitimate children.  [Whether this was in real life, or in a prophetic vision, we will leave to others to decide].  His marriage was to serve as a rebuke to Israel who had left the true God to worship idols. 

Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea and followed after her lovers, refusing to live as a faithful wife.  Hosea [Whether in a vision or in real life] threatens her with divorce, with rejection of both her and her children.  In this God is sending a strong message to Israel to repent of her idolatry and turn to her true husband, Jehovah.

Just like Gomer, Israel refused to return to her God.  She took the gifts that God gave her and offered them to Baal.  She gave her false gods credit for her blessings.

It is typical for idolaters to turn to their idols in the day of trouble, just as Israel did.  Recently, we Americans have heard more about multiculturalism and pluralism than ever before.  Has it never crossed anyone’s mind that the true God may be calling us to reject our idols and return to Him.  Or will we be like Gomer, refusing to see the truth and chasing our idols.

The religions of the world do not worship the same God under different names.  The only way a person can believe this is to strip the name of God of attributes so that it essentially becomes meaningless.

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