Verse: My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations. Hosea 9:17

Background: Hosea prophesied judgment and wrath of God to the people of Israel and they returned but partially, it was not intentional or sincere, what was the reason – Why did the Lord reject even when Ephraim returned? Lord himself explained through the prophet Hosea, let us learn a few

Reasons: Why did the Lord reject even when Ephraim returned?

1. Temporary Decisions: What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Hosea 6:4 – Any decision to be faithful was very momentary
2. Ignorance of God’s standards: But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face. Hosea 7:2 – Taking sin lightly and thinking the Lord does not take sin seriously and losing the standards of the Lord’s judgment
3. Ignored Sins: The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this. Hosea 7:10 – Even when the Lord convicted them of their sin, they never came back to change their ways.
4. Wrong Reason to weep: They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me. Hosea 7:14 – Wept for worldly loss and blessing, never wept for sin , never wept for repentance
5. Confession without consecration: They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow; their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. Hosea 7:16 –   Confession of mouth was not to live a consecrated life, confession never led to transformation
6. Incapable to Change: I have spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? Hosea 8:5 – This is so scary, Lord telling through the prophet this people can never or are not capable of living a blameless life
7. Mere words: They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field Hosea 10:4 – Words were many without any actions