What does Hosea 8:12 reveal about Israel's attitude towards God's commandments? The Verse in Focus “Though I wrote for them the great things of My law, they regarded them as something strange.” (Hosea 8:12) Israel’s Attitude Exposed • God had graciously “written” many, weighty commandments for Israel—clear, accessible, binding. • Israel’s reaction: “something strange.” The word carries ideas of foreign, alien, irrelevant. • Instead of treasuring the law (Psalm 119:97), they treated it as though it came from an outsider who had no rightful claim on their lives. • This is willful estrangement, not ignorance; they knew the statutes but chose to distance themselves. Root Causes Behind the Rejection • Spiritual Pride—They trusted political alliances and religious rituals (Hosea 8:4–6) more than God’s revealed word. • Hardened Hearts—Jeremiah 6:10: “They take no delight in it.” A similar dullness plagued Israel. • Cultural Conformity—Adopting Canaanite worship made God’s commands seem restrictive, out of step with surrounding nations (Deuteronomy 12:29–31). Consequences of Contempt • Covenant Discipline—Hosea 8:13–14 foretells exile; despising the law invites judgment (Leviticus 26:14–17). • Loss of Discernment—When truth is treated as “foreign,” deception gains ground (Isaiah 5:20). • Broken Fellowship—Walking contrary to God’s word severs intimacy with Him (Amos 3:3). Other Scriptures That Echo the Problem • Deuteronomy 32:15: “Jeshurun grew fat and kicked…he forsook God.” • Psalm 50:17: “You hate instruction and cast My words behind you.” • 2 Timothy 4:3–4: People will “turn away from listening to the truth” — a timeless pattern. Lessons for Believers Today • Scripture is never outdated; labeling it “strange” reveals a heart drifting from the Author. • Familiarity can breed contempt—regular study must be paired with humble submission (James 1:22). • Cultural pressures may brand biblical convictions as alien, but God’s commands remain the loving standard for holiness and blessing (John 14:15). • Vigilance is required: cherish, memorize, and obey the “great things” God has written, lest we repeat Israel’s tragic attitude. |
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