Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Ephraim was one of Joseph's
two sons, which were born unto him in Egypt by the daughter
of an idolatrous heathen priest. It appears that Jacob considered
them as his own sons by adoption, as he did in a measure remove
his blessing from Reuben and Simeon, giving it unto Ephraim
and Manasseh. Though Manasseh was Joseph's
firstborn son, it was unto Ephraim the second son to whom the greatest
blessing came. In this we are reminded that
the blessings of God to his children have not come unto them through
the first Adam, but through the last. And so it is written, the
first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made
a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which
is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that
which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth,
earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. We see the
name of Ephraim mentioned 37 times in the book of Hosea. He
is there used as a type of the nation of Israel, and as such
an illustration of the carnal, fleshly man who is nonetheless
made as a vessel of honor in the sight of God, and whom the
Lord would ultimately bless with deliverance, as he has made his
elect subject unto vanity. We see Jeremiah use the same
image as he sees in him the awakened child of grace, exercised by
his transgression and calling upon the name of the Lord. I
have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised
me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. Turn
thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God.
The children of God cannot be differentiated from the rest
of the world, since all men are born into this world in the weakness
of natural flesh. Apart from the grace of God which
sets them apart in Christ, as a people chosen in Him from before
the foundation of the world, they would surely arrive at the
same destination as those who are appointed under wrath. This
fulfills the purpose of God in demonstrating His everlasting
love for those who are His, and upon whom He would be pleased
to grant salvation, which is purchased by the precious blood
of Christ. When they are born again by the
Spirit of God and indwelt by Him, they are made new creatures.
Old things are passed away and all things become new. Yet their
flesh remains as it was when they were born, a rebel against
God and opposed to all that is good. Yet now this new man is
no longer in bondage to his flesh, but rather the Spirit works in
him and wars against the flesh, which would daily desire to bring
him back into that bondage. A desperate life and death struggle
ensues, yet such is the grace of God that he will preserve
that work which he has begun and will not forsake that which
is his. Thus we see Ephraim described
in the book of Hosea as joined to idols, committing whoredom,
and oppressed and broken in judgment. Paul said the same thing, for
I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing,
for the will is present with me, but how to perform that which
is good I find not. Ephraim is likened unto a cake
not turned, which denotes his unsuitableness, like as a cake
which is burned and inedible. He is called a silly dove who
seeks out help from Egypt, that is the place from whence he is
delivered, and winds up in servitude to Assyria. He stupidly makes
the same mistakes over and over again and brings himself into
bondage and fear. The chastisement of the Lord
is continually upon Ephraim, because whom the Lord loveth,
he chasteneth. It is through much tribulation that the sons
of God inherit the kingdom which is prepared for them. His rod
and his staff are their comfort, even though for the present no
chastening seemeth to be joyous, but afterward yieldeth its perfect
fruit. The Lord will keep his children from falling. Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away, and every
branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring
forth more fruit. We can see quite plainly throughout
the book of Hosea the utter unsuitableness of Ephraim to the kingdom of
God. He has nothing in himself that would serve as a recommendation
thereto. And if he should gain anything,
it would have to be by the mercy of God. This is exactly what
we see occurring as the Lord hides his sin. The iniquity of
Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hid. And I will strengthen
the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. And
they shall be as though I had not cast them off, for I am the
Lord their God and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall
be like a mighty man, and their hearts shall rejoice as through
wine. Yea, their children shall see it and be glad, their hearts
shall rejoice in the Lord. Do you rejoice in the Lord? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.