Hosea 12: Wait for Your God

Hosea 12 says Ephraim feeds on wind and multiplies lies. Hosea remembers Jacob, who struggled with the angel and wept and asked for blessing. Then the call: Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand, and Ephraim boasted of riches, but God reminded them that by a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt.

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Read Hosea 12

World English Bible · 14 verses

¹ Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended with God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us—This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ even Yahweh, the God of Armies. Yahweh is his name of renown!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich. I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ “But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Jacob fled into the country of Aram. Israel served to get a wife. For a wife he tended flocks and herds.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Hosea 12 · Preschool

Be Kind and Wait

Name Date

Color the scales and the person praying!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

Hosea 12:6 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God wants us to be kind and fair, and to wait for Him. Let's pray and wait for God together.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Hosea 12 · Grade 4

Wait Continually

Name Date

Read and Think

Hosea 12 begins: Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They made a covenant with Assyria instead of trusting God. Their plans were as empty as wind.

Hosea pointed back to their ancestor Jacob. In his manhood he contended with God. Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. Jacob's strength was in crying out to God.

So Hosea calls: Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. Yet A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. Ephraim said, Surely I have become rich. God reminded them: By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt. Ephraim had bitterly provoked anger, and God would hold him to account.

Show What You Know

What did Ephraim chase?
Who did Jacob struggle with?
Where was Jacob's strength?
What three things should Israel do?
How did Yahweh bring Israel out of Egypt?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

EgyptJacobangelGodjustice

They made a covenant with Assyria instead of trusting .
Hosea pointed back to their ancestor .
Indeed, he struggled with the , and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him.
Keep kindness and , and wait continually for your God.
God reminded them: By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of .

Think About It

Jacob wept and made supplication. How is crying out to God a kind of strength?
Ephraim boasted of riches and said they had no sin. How can money make people feel they don't need God?

Memory Verse

“Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

Hosea 12:6 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being patient with me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why should you pay close attention to what God has already said?
Jacob would not give up. How can you keep praying when an answer seems slow?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Hosea 12 · Grade 5

Kindness, Justice, and Waiting

Name Date

Read and Think

Hosea 12 shows a nation chasing empty things. Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. Israel trusted treaties with powerful nations rather than the Lord.

Hosea recalls their father Jacob. In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended with God. Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel. Jacob's story shows that God's people must come to Him with humble cries, not proud schemes.

The application follows: Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. In contrast, A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud. Ephraim boasted that no one would find sin in his wealth. God answered: But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. God had spoken through prophets again and again. Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger, and his Lord will repay his contempt.

Show What You Know

What did Israel trust instead of the Lord?
Where did Jacob find God?
How must God's people come to Him?
What does the merchant love to do?
What did Ephraim boast?

Crossword

Across

make you dwell in ____
he struggled with the ____

Down

Keep kindness and ____
he took his brother by the ____

Think About It

Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God. Which of these three is hardest for you, and why does God ask for all three together?
Israel trusted treaties instead of God. What things do people trust today instead of God?

Memory Verse

“Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

Hosea 12:6 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being patient with me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Jacob had to run and work hard as a shepherd for a wife. How has God used a hard season to shape you?
How can you be gentle and honest with others this week?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Hosea chapters · All books

Hosea 12: Wait for Your God

Read Hosea 12

Worksheets

Be Kind and Wait

Prayer

Take It Home

Kind and Fair

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Turn to God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Return to Your God

Prayer

Take It Home

Turn and Wait

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Keep Kindness and Justice

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Return to Your God

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Wait Continually

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Kindness, Justice, and Waiting

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options