Refusing to Learn: Rejecting God’s Instruction

Refusing to Learn: Rejecting God’s Instruction

Text: Hosea 4:14-19 Date: 5-17-26

1. The consequences of rejecting God’s word (Hosea 4:14)

Hosea’s point here is that the male leaders, the priests, even those fathers and husbands, should have set the example. Therefore, the men would receive the greater punishment. Would God punish the women as well? Absolutely, as they were part of the national degradation.

The people had defected from God because they lacked understanding of Him, and thus the nation would be vanquished. “With the priests so lacking in spiritual understanding and insight (for Heb. byn and its use in Wisdom Literature, see Job 28:23; Prov. 1:2, 6; 8:5; 14:8), it is easy to understand how the people were unable to discern the real issues of their day and why they consequently were headed for certain disaster”.[1]

Truth: God had called His people in Psalm 91:1 to dwell in the secret place of the most High, which in turn gives protection under the shadow of the Almighty. Instead of dwelling in that place of security, the people ascended to the shadows of the shady trees. Instead of worshipping Jehovah, they worshipped false gods and lived in adultery with prostitutes. Prov. 14:8 says: “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: But the folly of fools is deceit.”

2. The warning of rejecting God’s word given to Judah (Hosea 4:15-16)

The Lord now gives several reasons as to why Judah should not follow in the footsteps of Israel:

• Do not journey to Gilgal or go to Bethaven (Hosea 4:15a).

God’s warning is clear: stay away from idolatry (Hosea 4:15b)! Stay away from immoral practices. These cities were full of dishonoring practices that were the main reasons Israel was headed to judgment. See Amos 5:4-5.

• Don’t use oaths to swear to God while practicing idolatry.
• Don’t be a backsliding heifer (Hosea 4:16).

Instead of being a lamb that followed God, the nation was a stubborn heifer.

Israel behaved as though she stubbornly did not want to yoke up with Jehovah. She did not want to be trained or follow Jehovah in obedience. Israel has a “distaste of godly restraint” (Feinberg 30).

Israel had relinquished their protection by God and traded it for being unprotected from all sorts of predators.

• Don’t join to idols, so don’t go near Israel! (Hosea 4:17)

Israel had coupled itself with gods through witchcraft, calling upon spirits, and appealing to unseen forces. The nation was so bound up in these practices that it refused to give up their idolatry. This picture represented a permanent pagan union with the nation which left them hopeless, and restoration seemed all but impossible.

God was calling Judah to beware of the rebellion of Israel.

3. The consequences of idolatry (Hosea 4:18-19)

Once again, Hosea reminds both Israel and Judah that when idolatry locks its grip upon them, God’s only recourse will be to bring grave destruction. When a nation, with its priests, prophets, people, and princes, loves its shame and becomes inseparable with its idolatry, God’s whirlwind of judgment will wrap them in her wings and take her away to a far distant land of a cruel people. Their idolatry will end in shame as their nation and idols will be swept away.

How do we stem the tide of idolatry in our lives?

• Repent. Fall on our knees and admit that we love other things, stuff, and money more than God.
• The people had failed to heed God’s word. We must heed God’s word.
• Worship God at church with the body of Christ. Take every available opportunity to partake in the fellowship of the saints.
• Love God. Love Jesus Christ. Love the Holy Spirit. Love others more than yourself.
• Quit hiding. Quit playing spiritual games. Be authentic with God. Get help if needed. Have accountability.

[1] Hubbard, D. A. (1989). Hosea: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 24, p. 115). InterVarsity Press.