I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah...For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
–Hosea 5:12, 14 NIV
By three in the morning, a single porch light burns alone against an otherwise dark and lifeless streetscape in the wealthiest, most prestigious neighborhood in the city. A stunning woman and her companion stumble toward his door after another night of carousing. Alone at home, her husband and kids haven’t seen their wife and mom since leaving for “her business trip” over three days ago. She knows it’s not right but quickly dismisses thoughts of her family as her lover prompts her to come inside. Just as the two lean in toward each other, a moth from the porchlight flutters between their faces and ruins the moment. They stagger through the door, giggling as they fall on top of one another inside, and the moth scoots in before the door slams behind them.
One of the things we tell ourselves as we try “running” from God is that if we forget Him, He will forget us. The book of Hosea pictures Israel “stepping out” on her husband to pursue a lifestyle contrary to God’s wishes. But how could they hide from someone who knows and sees everything under the sun? I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from Me; Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt (Hosea 5:3). The thought of God’s penetrating gaze is frightening to those who are sinful and is the root of much resentment and hostility toward Him.
According to the 18th century revivalist preacher Jonathan Edwards, the natural man is God’s enemy because of five things: (1) God’s holiness, because we are not holy; (2) God’s omniscience, because He knows we are not holy; (3) God’s omnipotence, because this offends our desire for autonomy; (4) God’s mercy, because it is a holy mercy; and (5) God’s immutability (unchangeableness), because God will never be otherwise is in these “offensive” attributes.
A.W. Tozer speaks of God’s omniscience being a cause of “shaking fear” for the man who has something to hide. We have a strange ambivalence at this point. On the one hand we want to be known, but on the other hand, we don’t want to be known too well. We fear exposure, sensing we are not what we ought to be and are, therefore, prone to hiding from God, ourselves and others. We can hide from others, we can lie to ourselves, but how do you hide from One of whom it is written, And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Heb. 4:13 ESV)?
Yet the great progression of God’s love is that He will not let us lose ourselves to sin without first exhausting all His resources. In Hosea 5:12, God describes Himself like a moth. He tries distracting us from our sin in a harmless way to get us thinking of Him once again. But if we resist this annoying flapping, the moth will come closer and devour those things competing for our hearts. Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim and like rottenness to the house of Judah (Hosea 5:12).
The book of Hosea proceeds with a much more terrifying word for those who resist subtle warnings from insects. The moth destroys our belongings, but the lion will all but destroy us. For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them (Hosea 5:14). Sometimes, even after terrible disaster, we still won’t turn to Jesus.
Don’t be deceived. If you continually reject Him, God will wash His hands of you and retract His offer. Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord. When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. (Hosea 4:17; 5:4, 6; See also: Romans 1:18-32)
Nowadays many people believe they’re spiritually well because of their sacrifice of time, talents, or tithes each Sunday at church. Then again, most folks don’t bow to bronze cows or fornicate with shrine prostitutes. But like Israel in Hosea’s day, we too can subtly become deceived. We have secret sins in our lives we hope not even God knows about. We try to keep quiet and do good things, hoping our consciences will quit bugging us.
Reflect:
Like Israel, we sometimes commit spiritual adultery against God. Have you let a person or pursuit trump Jesus as the priority of your life?
Grace is so “amazing” in that God knew even your deepest, darkest sins and still sent Jesus to die for you!
Is there any persistent or ongoing sin in your life?
Is God trying to get your attention? Who or what is the moth in your life?