Two thoughts come to mind as we read these chapters that continue the litany of offenses that Israel has committed against God.
First ... in 8:7 the language uses the metaphor of the whirlwind for Israel's condition. Living on the Gulf coast, we know hurricanes. I have just read an historical novel by Erik Larsen, "Isaac's Storm". It is about the deadly hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. The destruction is almost unbelievable ... as the entire path for a city was changed.
In 1961, Hurricane Carla was forming and strengthening in open waters. I was in Galveston with my best friend and her parents. We were playing in the surf - myself, my friend, and her mom. Moment by moment news channels and weather stations were not common usage yet. We did not know. So we played. My friends dad was sleeping on the beach. After a period of time we realized how far we had drifted from his location in our oblivious fun. So we decided to head back in his direction. Problem ... we couldn't! The undertow was strong ... and it took us. It carried us deeper until we were in water over our heads - no more feet on the bottom. We tried swimming directly for the beach ... we couldn't. It continued to carry us out. Galveston has these long, granite fishing piers that reach far into the ocean. Mercifully, we were carried toward one and finally slammed against one of those granite piers. That allowed us to crawl out of the water. The barnacles cut our hands, knees and feet. People on shore had seen the struggle so an ambulance was on site and a few spectators had gathered. We were hauled out of the ocean, checked over and pronounced 'fit' as well as 'fortunate'! A few days later, Hurricane Carla came ashore at Port Lavaca, TX - a whirlwind that left destruction in its wake.
As I consider Israel in these messages, I see her like I was in Galveston that day ... just playing and seemingly unaware that destructive winds were just off shore. These prophets are the warning system! And Israel continued her romp at the beach in spite of the blasts from the sirens saying, "Get out ... get home!"
The second thought that pricks my heart is in Hosea 8:14. The phrase in the NIV says, "Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces ...". The word translated 'forgotten' actually means 'neglected'. Israel knew God intellectually. But she had pushed Him aside. Other things were more important. Listen to the words of James Boice:
So ... you and I ... let's not neglect our God this week! Each day ... go to Him. Each day ... think on Him. Each day ... talk with Him. Each day ... listen to Him. Each day ... submit to Him. Each day ... offer yourself as a living sacrifice to Him. Your life, my life, are nothing without Him. They are as meaningless as jumping a few waves in the shallows of the ocean ...
Not only had Israel not forgotten God - she still knew that He existed and even thought that she was worshiping Him - it is actually the case that no one ever forgets God in the absolute, intellectual sense. It is our inescapable knowledge of God coupled to our unreasonable and sinful rejection of that knowledge that makes us guilty before Him. (Read again Romans 1: 18 - 20)
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