Hosea 13:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I am the Lord your God, the one who created the heavens and formed the earth, whose hand made all the celestial beings; and I have not revealed them to you for you to follow. The flaws of false wisdom are consistently laid bare when confronted with true understanding, shining forth like a beacon in the darkness to illuminate correct thinking. Thus, He rebukes the Israelites for their profound foolishness and for descending into deep sorrow as they began to revere images and crafted idols, neglecting the true and living God. He declares that He is the One who establishes the skies, fortifies the earth, and forms the stars; He chastises them for dismissing the potential to know the Creator through His creation, turning it into an opportunity for self-deception.

Let none who endure such a leader cast blame on the one they endure, for surely it is by his own actions that he has come under the dominion of a wicked ruler. It is imperative that he first denounce the sinfulness of his own conduct rather than the injustice of his leader. As it is written, I have given thee a king in My wrath (Hos. 13:11). Why do we fail to recognize that we are governed by those whose authority has been granted to us through the Lord's displeasure? If our leaders arise from the wrath of God due to our transgressions, then we must reflect on ourselves, assessing our own shortcomings. Often, even the chosen endure the trials imposed by the unworthy. This is evident in the way David endured the oppression of Saul for an extended period. However, the sin that follows is not merely a consequence but an exceedingly harsh and grave punishment.

I am the Lord your God who has redeemed you from Egypt and led you through the desolate wilderness. Even though I have delivered you from slavery, I will strike down like a bear those who seek to harm you, taking their prey out of desperation as they head towards Assyria. Furthermore, I will expose the hidden intentions of their hearts, demonstrating through unforeseen circumstances that their aspirations are futile.

I am the Lord your God, who delivered you from the land of Egypt. In contrast, the LXX states: I am the Lord your God, who creates the heavens and forms the earth, whose hand fashioned all the celestial beings, and I did not reveal them to you so that you might follow their ways. I brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since these phrases are absent in the Hebrew text and are not found in any translations nor present in the ancient version of the LXX, they should be denoted with an obel. Their meaning is evident, and thus we will transition to the rest of the passage and link this verse with what follows.

But I am the Lord your God, the one who creates the heavens and establishes the earth, and by My hands formed all the celestial hosts. I not only fashioned the heavens and the earth but also ensured their enduring existence. I called into being all the hosts of heaven, both visible and invisible, including the mighty powers and intelligent beings, as well as the countless stars along with the great lights, the sun and the moon. Yet, I will not allow you to follow in their ways. I brought you out of the land of Egypt, and you shall recognize no God but Me; there is no savior besides Me.

Through the Lord Christ, everything came into being; thus, He is rightly referred to as the Creator. The essence and the significance of His creation remain intact within Him. Consider Melchisedec, who refers to God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth: blessed be Abraham by the Most High God, who made heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19). Also, recall the words of the prophet Hosea, who states, I am the Lord your God, who made heaven and earth, whose hands formed all the celestial host. Furthermore, Peter affirms this by saying, Let them commit their souls to Him, as to a faithful Creator (1 Pet. 4:19). How shall we address the Master who brought all things into existence? What title can we give our God? He is our Creator; He is the Creator of all the heavenly host.