20160103 Sunday, January 3 2016
Hosea 11: Forward, Backward, Awayward

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images"

Definitions from The Consolidated Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary:

Forward: "Toward a part or place before or in front; onward; progressively"

Backward: "In a direction opposite to forward; toward past times or events; from a better to a worse state; in a contrary or reverse manner, way or direction"

Awayward (also abbreviated as Wayward): "Full of peevish caprises or whims; froward; perverse" [see also Forward, Not Froward]

The Israelites of the Exodus (and subsequently through the kingdoms of their history; see A History Of Israel's United And Divided Kingdomsand the Fact Finder question below) experienced all three conditions of forward, backward and awayward.

The Israelites came forward, out of their bondage (see also How Long Were They Slaves?), with the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) leading them:

"12:37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 12:39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 12:42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations." (Exodus 12:37-42 KJV)

"13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." (Exodus 13:21-22 KJV)

When the Israelites discovered that they had to be responsible for themselves, they cried out to go backward:

"11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick" (Numbers 11:4-5 KJV)

"14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 14:3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." (Numbers 14:1-4 KJV)

The Israelites then descended to the lowest level, from forward in the LORD's Way, to backward in their own way, to awayward - the any way of anarchy and iniquity (see Iniquity In History And Prophecy).

"32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." (Exodus 32:7-8 KJV)

The prophets of the LORD frequently spoke of Israel's Exodus (see The Israelite Wanderland and Why A Book Of Deuteronomy In The Bible?) to later kingdoms. It should have been a lesson for all who came later.

"11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 11:2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 11:3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 11:4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

11:5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. 11:6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 11:7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

11:8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 11:9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. 11:10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. 11:11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.

11:12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints." (Hosea 11:1-12 KJV)

Fact Finder: When will all of Israel go forward with the LORD?
See The Return Of The King