Hos 12:8 | KingComments | STEP | Hosea’s accusation of has not hit a target. What Ephraim says here is reminiscent of what the church in Laodicea says: “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” ( ). By pronouncing this, it turns out that, just like Ephraim, they are completely blind to their sins. In the last days, Christianity will be characterized by the same self-satisfaction as Ephraim was then. For Ephraim, their richness is proof that it is all right with them. They think in the sense of: ‘If we were wrong, would God bless us like this?’ But riches are never proof of blessing. Prosperity often blinds us to sin. It is foolish to place your hopes in something like the uncertainty of wealth. James warns us about this miscalculation of wealth ( ). Those who know the relative importance of riches will take the word to heart, “not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God” ( ). With all riches, Ephraim moderates that no sin has been committed. Every accusation is declared unfounded in advance. Apparently, they have discovered loopholes in the law that allow them to delude themselves that their actions do not violate the law. People who only focus on themselves and their own advantage always have a good opinion of themselves. If there is any sin, it will be dealt with as ’not worth talking about’. There is no iniquity in them, they declare. For carnal Christians, worldly prosperity and the success they have often confirms that they are correct as far as their way of life is concerned.

‏ Hosea 12:8

I Have Become Rich

Hosea’s accusation of Hos 12:7 has not hit a target. What Ephraim says here is reminiscent of what the church in Laodicea says: “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (Rev 3:17a). By pronouncing this, it turns out that, just like Ephraim, they are completely blind to their sins. In the last days, Christianity will be characterized by the same self-satisfaction as Ephraim was then.

For Ephraim, their richness is proof that it is all right with them. They think in the sense of: ‘If we were wrong, would God bless us like this?’ But riches are never proof of blessing. Prosperity often blinds us to sin. It is foolish to place your hopes in something like the uncertainty of wealth. James warns us about this miscalculation of wealth (Jam 1:9-10). Those who know the relative importance of riches will take the word to heart, “not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God” (1Tim 6:17).

With all riches, Ephraim moderates that no sin has been committed. Every accusation is declared unfounded in advance. Apparently, they have discovered loopholes in the law that allow them to delude themselves that their actions do not violate the law. People who only focus on themselves and their own advantage always have a good opinion of themselves. If there is any sin, it will be dealt with as ’not worth talking about’. There is no iniquity in them, they declare.

For carnal Christians, worldly prosperity and the success they have often confirms that they are correct as far as their way of life is concerned.