God was upset with His people. Neither Israel nor Judah committed themselves to Him. They drifted toward other nations and other gods. Even though the Lord had proven Himself to His people for generations, they didn’t live for Him.
The prophet Hosea summarizes God’s complaint in a single verse. Here are that five different Bible versions translate the root of the problem in five different ways:
“O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.” – Hosea 6:4 (King James Version)
“O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away.” – Hosea 6:4 (New King James Version)
“What shall I do with you, Ephraim? What shall I do with you, Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud, and like the dew which goes away early.” – Hosea 6:4 (New American Standard Bible, 2020 edition)
“What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your lovingkindness is like a morning cloud and like the dew which goes away early.” – Hosea 6:4 (New American Standard Bible, 1995 edition, alternate translation)
“What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.” – Hosea 6:4 (New International Version)
God charged His people with lacking a certain virtue. In alphabetical order, that virtue is called faithfulness, goodness, love, lovingkindness, or loyalty.
Which one is the best translation?
It’s a trick question because the Hebrew noun, hesed, means all of the above! But let’s not get bogged down in definitions. When we look at these options, we understand that God is looking for dedication from His people. He wants their hearts.
And it’s not as though they’d refuse. They’d honor Him, but it wouldn’t last. And that was the main issue.
Four of the versions above refer to a “morning cloud,” one says “morning mist,” and all mention “dew.” We have the image of the dampness of dawn. You can imagine that this would disappear fast in the dry climate of Israel! As the sun climbs high, the dew on the ground and the clouds in the sky evaporates. Too bright and too hot!
What’s the solution?
The immediate answer is to repent. Those who aren’t devoted to the Lord change their minds and commit themselves to Him. Yes, that would work, but the same temptations that led them astray earlier would tease them again.
When Christians read the Bible, we do so to learn more about Jesus. Scripture points us to Christ. So we can address the problem of temporary devotion by looking at the life of our Lord.
And we find in Jesus an example of full devotion to His Father. The gospel of John backs this up:
“‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.’” – John 4:34
“For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 6:38
“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. 29The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” – John 8:28-29
Jesus spoke the words of God and performed the works of God. His whole life revolved around His Father. We can say that He fulfilled God’s desire expressed in Hosea 6:4.
But Christ is more than an example for us to imitate. What He said, He spoke for us. What He did, He accomplished for us. He sacrificed Himself that we have His life. As John says,
“To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
When we believe in God’s Son Jesus, we become His children, too. Dedication flows from this relationship. It’s natural to us because God has changed our nature. We’re now like Jesus. We can talk like Him and serve like Him. As the apostle Peter reminds us,
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 4:10-11
Unlike the Israelites, we can go the distance. Our commitment to Christ will last because His Spirit is active in us. We can take the verse in Hosea to heart because it reveals the heart of God toward His people. And Jesus has fulfilled that desire in Himself so that we, through Him, might share in that blessing.
Don’t fade, stay strong in Jesus Christ!
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