Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation, but it was his grandson Jacob who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. So in Hosea 12, the prophet recounts incidents from the life of Jacob to indict the entire nation. Like their famous ancestor, the Jews of Hosea’s day were responding to the LORD’s faithful love with a spirit of ungrateful deceit. Their punishment is now imminent (v 2). From the moment of his birth, Jacob was known as a schemer and deceiver. The name “Jacob” means “heal grasper,” for even as his twin brother Esau was emerging from their mother’s womb, baby Jacob grabbed him by the heel as if he might be the firstborn instead. Though he was born second, Jacob later cheated his brother out of the birthright and the all-important deathbed blessing of their father. As a man, the conniving Jacob thought he could also trick God, or at least manipulate Him for his own advantage (v 3). Having cheated his brother, Jacob was forced to run for his life. More than twenty years later, the LORD called him to return to his family. But as Jacob prepared for the homecoming, he was worried about meeting an angry Esau, who had threatened to kill him two decades earlier. Then God sent an angel to Jacob, and the two wrestled all night. Eventually the angel wounded his hip, bringing Jacob to a place of total surrender. He wept, received God’s blessing, and became a changed man. So the angel changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which means “one who struggled with God and prevailed” (v 4a). Later, “he met God at Bethel” (Gen 35:3), the place where he had earlier tried to bargain with God (Gen 28:10-22). Finally Jacob stood before God humbly, ready to hear what the LORD would say and to receive whatever instructions God had for him. The question is: will Jacob’s descendants learn their lesson as Jacob did? Hosea perceives that “God spoke with us” through His dealings with Jacob. The Word of God is alive and relevant for all generations (v 4b). Though we are powerless to change on our own, with the help of our God we can return to Him, producing the qualities of love and justice. But we must come on His terms, not ours—holding fast to what pleases Him, and patiently waiting for the blessing of His presence to be manifest in our lives (v 5-6). In their current state, Israel was like Jacob the trickster—bargaining with God, rather than submitting to Him. They were like a dishonest “merchant,” rich and arrogant. They rejected His prophets in favor of false religion. God had graciously saved them through Moses and been faithful to all His promises. Yet they provoked Him to anger by their “disgraceful deeds” (v 7-14). For further meditation: