Through the Bible – Day 348

₁When Israel was a child,

I loved him, and I called

my son out of Egypt.

₂But as the saying goes,

“The more they were called,

the more they rebelled.”

They never stopped offering

incense and sacrifices

to the idols of Baal.

₃I took Israel by the arm

and taught them to walk.

But they would not admit

that I was the one

who had healed them.

₄I led them with kindness

and with love,

not with ropes.

I held them close to me;

I bent down to feed them.

₅But they trusted Egypt

instead of returning to me;

now Assyria will rule them.

₆War will visit their cities,

and their plans will fail.

₇My people are determined

to reject me for a god

they think is stronger,

but he can't help.

₈Israel, I can't let you go.

I can't give you up.

How could I possibly destroy you

as I did the towns of Admah

and Zeboiim?

I just can't do it.

My feelings for you

are much too strong.

₉Israel, I won't lose my temper

and destroy you again.

I am the Holy God—

not merely a human being,

and I won't stay angry.

₁₀I, the LORD, will roar like a lion,

and my children will return,

trembling from the west.

₁₁They will come back,

fluttering like birds from Egypt

or like doves from Assyria.

Then I will bring them

back to their homes.

I, the LORD, have spoken!

₁₂Israel is deceitful to me,

their loyal and holy God;

they surround me with lies,

and Judah worships

other gods.

₁All day long Israel chases

wind from the desert;

deceit and violence

are found everywhere.

Treaties are made with Assyria;

olive oil is taken to Egypt.

₂The LORD also brings charges

against the people of Judah,

the descendants of Jacob.

He will punish them

for what they have done.

₃Even before Jacob was born,

he cheated his brother,

and when he grew up,

he fought against God.

₄At Bethel, Jacob wrestled

with an angel and won;

then with tears in his eyes,

he asked for a blessing,

and God spoke to us there.

₅God's name is the LORD,

the LORD God All-Powerful.

₆So return to your God.

Patiently trust him,

and show love and justice.

₇Israel, you enjoy cheating

and taking advantage

of others.

₈You say to yourself, “I'm rich!

I earned it all on my own,

without committing a sin.”

₉Israel, I, the LORD,

am still your God,

just as I have been

since the time

you were in Egypt.

Now I will force you

to live in tents once again,

as you did in the desert.

₁₀I spoke to the prophets—

often I spoke in visions.

And so, I will send my prophets

with messages of doom.

₁₁Gilead is terribly sinful

and will end up ruined.

Bulls are sacrificed in Gilgal

on altars made of stones,

but those stones will be scattered

in every field.

₁₂Jacob escaped to Syria

where he tended sheep

to earn himself a wife.

₁₃I sent the prophet Moses

to lead Israel from Egypt

and to keep them safe.

₁₄Israel, I will make you pay

for your terrible sins

and for insulting me.

₁When your leaders spoke,

everyone in Israel trembled

and showed great respect.

But you sinned by worshipping Baal,

and you were destroyed.

₂Now you continue to sin

by designing and making

idols of silver

in the shape of calves.

You are told to sacrifice

to these idols—

yes, even to kiss them.

₃And so, all of you will vanish

like the mist or the dew

of early morning,

or husks of grain in the wind

or smoke from a chimney.

₄I, the LORD, have been your God

since the time

you were in Egypt.

I am the only God you know,

the only one who can save.

₅I took care of you

in a thirsty desert.

₆I fed you till you were satisfied,

then you became proud

and forgot about me.

₇Now I will attack like a lion,

ambush you like a leopard,

₈and rip you apart like a bear

robbed of her cubs.

I will gnaw on your bones,

as though I were a lion

or some other wild animal.

₉Israel, you are done for.

Don't expect help from me.

₁₀You wanted a king and rulers.

Where is your king now?

What cities have rulers?

₁₁In my anger, I gave you a king;

in my fury, I took him away.

₁₂Israel, your terrible sins

are written down

and stored away.

₁₃You are like a senseless child

who refuses to be born

at the proper time.

₁₄Should I, the LORD, rescue you

from death and the grave?

No! I call death and the grave

to strike you like a plague.

I refuse to show mercy.

₁₅No matter how much you prosper

more than the other tribes,

I, the LORD, will wipe you out,

just as a scorching desert wind

dries up streams of water.

I will take away

your precious treasures.

₁₆Samaria will be punished

for turning against me.

It will be destroyed in war—

children will be beaten

against rocks,

and pregnant women

will be ripped open.

₁Israel, return! Come back

to the LORD, your God.

Sin has made you fall.

₂Return to the LORD and say,

“Please forgive our sins.

Accept our good sacrifices

of praise instead of bulls.

₃Assyria can't save us,

and chariots can't help.

So we will no longer worship

the idols we have made.

Our LORD, you show mercy

to orphans.”

₄Israel, you have rejected me,

but my anger is gone;

I will heal you and love you

without limit.

₅I will be like the dew—

then you will blossom like lilies

and have roots like a tree.

₆Your branches will spread

with the beauty

of an olive tree

and with the aroma

of Lebanon Forest.

₇You will rest in my shade,

and your grain will grow.

You will blossom

like a vineyard

and be famous as the wine

from Lebanon.

₈Israel, give up your idols!

I will answer your prayers

and take care of you.

I am that glorious tree,

the source of your fruit.

₉If you are wise, you will know

and understand what I mean.

I am the LORD, and I lead you

along the right path.

If you obey me,

we will walk together,

but if you are wicked,

you will stumble.

“You are worthy

to receive the scroll

and open its seals,

because you were killed.

And with your own blood

you bought for God

people from every tribe,

language, nation, and race.

₁₀You let them become kings

and serve God as priests,

and they will rule on earth.”

“The Lamb who was killed

is worthy to receive power,

riches, wisdom, strength,

honour, glory, and praise.”

“Praise, honour, glory,

and strength

for ever and ever

to the one who sits

on the throne

and to the Lamb!”