On a scale of 1 to 10 it is said that British people have emotions in the region of 4 to 6 and being really passionate might merit a 7. But Hosea's passion is way off the scale. In the face of Israel's behaviour towards God he says,
Gilead is a city of wicked men, stained with footprints of blood. As marauders lie in ambush for a man, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem…. I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel…Ephraim is given to prostitution" Hosea 6:8-10
Passion is a very personal thing, and we know when a preacher has passion or not. But the problem today is that passion tends to be viewed with suspicion. 'Is he putting it on?' 'It's nice to see someone with passion, but that's his thing'; or worse, "Dunno why she's going on about that, there's nothing we can do about it"
Of such replies Hosea says something that has become one of his most quotable phrases,
"Ephraim is a cake not turned." Hosea 7:8. Barnes, the famous 19th century commentator says of this phrase: "The sort of cake, to which Ephraim is likened, was a thin pancake to which a scorching heat was applied. If it remained long "unturned," it burned on one side, while unbaked and doughy, on the other. Such were the people; such are too many so-called Christians; they unite in themselves hypocrisy and ungodliness, outward performance and inward lukewarmness; the one overdone, but without any wholesome effect on the other."
But Hosea's passion was born of desperation as well as from God. He saw the writing on the wall – the fall of Israel to Assyria was upon them – and as a nation it would disappear forever. The people needed to hear, but did not. So today, if you and I believe what we say we believe, let us take to heart Hosea's call to return – not only in our own hearts, where we must begin, but also in our interaction with others. Read the very last chapter of Hosea and see the sweetness and mercy of our God and with passion in our hearts say to him "O Lord, I love you"
Alan Cartwright
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