With this penultimate chapter comes the darkest part of Hosea's prophecy. God gives full vent to His fierce anger against His unchaste bride. But it also comes as God looks back on Israel's past once more.

In just a few sentences (Hosea 13:1-3) Hosea sketches Israel's demise. He moves swiftly from the past (v. 1) to the present (v. 2), and then the future (v. 3). There was a time when Ephraim (the dominant tribe in the north) spoke and all the other tribes and surrounding nations sat up and listened. But Hosea quickly traces the moment when Israel sowed the seeds of her own downfall back to when the people turned from Yahweh (the source of life and strength) to worshipping Baal (v. 1). At that point, even though they continued to exist, it was as if their relationship with God had died (and the people with it).

Stepping away from the living God and towards idolatry, they had started something that they couldn't control. Their flirtation with sin became addictive and gave birth to more and more sin (v. 2). Now they found themselves in the ridiculous situation of getting their highly skilled craftsman to make cows for people to kiss. It would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic.

God promises that in the future, this once-great kingdom would go up in smoke (v. 3). Like the morning mist or the dew that quickly evaporates, and like the husk around the wheat that is blown away by the wind, Israel would disappear.

And she did. All too soon the ″east wind″ (v. 15) of the Assyrian military machine blew in and took everything, including people and goods (the capital city of Samaria was known for its affluence). Even their next generation was removed as soldiers slaughtered little ones and pregnant women (v. 16).

All this would happen because the people had ″rebelled against their God″ and ″must bear their guilt″ (v. 16). Israel fell not because she was poor, nor because Assyria was stronger, but because she had abandoned the Lord and chased after Baal. Walking away from God only brings our own demise.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being the source of life, love, strength, and goodness. Help me to love you and not flirt with anyone or anything that might threaten my devotion to you. In Jesus' name, amen.