20160104 Monday, January 4 2016
Hosea 12: The Way Out

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God"

The English-language word "exodus" originated from a compound Greek word, ex, meaning out, and hodos, meaning way, or road. Exodus, in practice and principle, means the way out.

While the Exodus of the time of Moses is the most-familiar to many people (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Exodus), there are, historically and prophetically, actually many people of a LORD-called exodus recorded in the Holy Scriptures. As we will read, true Christianity itself is an exodus out of the dead-end ways of the world by means of the Way of the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour).

The LORD called Abraham to an exodus out of Babylon - the place that had once been Eden, but was lost when humans chose to become delusional rebels against the winning Way (see How Did Eden Become Babylon? and Iniquity In History And Prophecy).

"12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

12:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came." (Genesis 12:1-5 KJV)

Abraham's pilgrimage was Christian (see also The Pilgrims), in that while he came out of the religious and political "Babylon," the remainder of his life, even after he arrived where the LORD told him to physically go (see A Biography Of Abraham: From Ur To Canaan), was dedicated to the journey that all must make in order to arrive at the Kingdom of God (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach? and What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?). What Abraham was given to do is the same journey that all true followers of the LORD have done before and since the time of Abraham - including Abraham's son Isaac and Isaac's son Jacob, who the LORD renamed as "Israel."

"11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:1-16 KJV)

The LORD, through His true prophets, frequently reminded the Israelites of their history and of the "exodus" that they should have been making, but over and over, they not only stopped along the Way, they abandoned themselves along it (see Forward, Backward, Awayward).

"12:1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

12:2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

12:3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 12:4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; 12:5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. 12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

12:7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. 12:8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.

12:9 And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

12:11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

12:12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

12:13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. 12:14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him." (Hosea 12:1-14 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does being "saved" actually mean in the Word of God? When will it happen?
See Who Can Be Saved?; also Strait And Straight and Which Way Is Right And Left?