There are translations that try to alleviate an apparent contradiction in the biblical passage under study, as the philosopher Martin Buber proposed: I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim.  (yes, I must). For I am God, and not man. The Word does not change, even if man despises it. The Lord did not destroy Ephraim, but let Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, destroy Samaria - capital of the kingdom of Israel - and take the best of the people to Nineveh and other parts of his empire.

In Samaria, only those without a profession or education remained. Sometime later, Shalmaneser sent people from various kingdoms to live in the Promised Land, and intermarriages took place. The result was a mixture of races and religions, which only worsened the situation of the previously prosperous kingdom of Israel. From the succession of misfortunes experienced by God's people, we learn that turning the saved away from faith in Christ can lead them to the worst places in the spiritual realm!

Hosea wrote the highlighted verse around 200 years before this sad event. The Israelites were the heirs of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but because they had left the worship of the Lord and followed demons, they were left destitute by God. Undoubtedly, at Jesus' return to earth, we will see a multitude trying to go to Glory, but being sent to the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21.8).

If it were possible, we should spend our resources to prevent people from heading for eternal perdition (Mark 9:44,46,48). The Savior's return will be glorious for those who have persevered in keeping the commandments and acting righteously in the Father's eyes; on the other hand, it will be sad for those who have not gone up with the Lord. Get ready to live abundantly and in holiness from now on!

Christ will not return to destroy, but to take us to the Kingdom of Heaven, from where we will never leave (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). The invitation has already been given, and the work necessary to save those who believe in the Son and receive Him as Savior and Lord has been done since the day He left the realm of death and rose for our justification (Romans 4:25). Never let yourself be led astray by the devil, who deceives you all the time by saying that God is good and that's why He won't leave anyone in hell!

It was not the Most High who destroyed Ephraim, but the people themselves with their idolatry and other sins. The warning will never be lifted, but there are people blinded by demons, who every day give themselves over to prostitution and other sinful practices. We don't understand why they do this. It is known that, just as Samaria did not seek God to be cleansed of their sins, millions of people will not be saved. Be ready!

The Lord is God and not man, so he will not fight against anyone. The King of kings will rescue those who have accepted him as their Savior and persevered in that decision (John 1.12). How sad it will be to see so many asking for help, crying out for forgiveness, while today they won't even accept a prayer and declare that they don't need God. Mercy!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares