When Ephrain Spoke

Hosea 13:1-2 - When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!”


Judges 8:3 - God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.

1 Samuel 1:4 - Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

1 Kings 19:18 - Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Isaiah 44:17-19 - From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!” They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?

Hosea 8:6 - They are from Israel! This calf—a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.

Ezekiel 20:26 - I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.’

1 Kings 12:30 - And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.

Application:

· A gentle answer turns away wrath!!!
· Do I have fellowship and communion with the Lord? Do I gratefully acknowledge His mercies?
· Am I remaining faithful?
· My idolatry is totally irrational!!!
· Are my eyes plastered? Is my mind closed?
· Am I detestable because of my idol worship?
· Do I continue to sin more and more?
· God will go to any length to get His people to acknowledge Him!!!
· Do I foolishly abandon religious principle for expediency (financial, material, immoral)?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV