Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him
and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds. – Hosea 12:14
Today, we continue with the comparison between Jacob and the people of Israel. Hosea reminds them of the time when Jacob went to his uncle´s to work for seven years in order to marry Rachel. Just as he fled to Syria, the people of Israel would flee and go into exile, too. The people of Israel had been so wicked and had made such atrocities, they “were being repaid for his disgraceful deeds” (Hosea 12:14). Today’s passage also reminds me of another passage in Deuteronomy 8:2 – “And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.”
There are times when God allows us to suffer so we can see what´s in our hearts. God intentionally led Israel into the wilderness for forty years so they could know what was in their hearts. He does the same for us today. God at times uses some hard seasons in our lives to give us the opportunity to see what´s in our hearts without deceiving ourselves.
Heavenly Father, don´t let me hide any sin inside of my heart. Please, show me anything that may be hidden to me. Help me endure whatever circumstance I have to live in order to be aware of the deepest sin in my heart. Amen.