Israel is a land flowing with milk and honey. They took credit for and advantage of the riches of the land. Self-worship became a huge problem. They decide they don’t need a king or God. Self-sufficient. They say a lot, but they don’t mean any of it. They mourn the loss of an image of a calf, the subject of their praise and worship. They take the broken god to the enemy as tribute, to their shame. Ephraim is compared to a beautiful, but rebellious calf. Trust in self and army has led to an inevitable coming war. Beth-Arbel (house of ambush) was apparently the site of a tragedy, and a similar fate will hit Beth-El (house of God).
Israel is a beautiful calf (a nod to their object of worship), but so rebellious. As he’s fought against the yoke God placed on him, it’s been God who has put salve on the sores where the yoke has rubbed. We’ve read chapters of Israel’s sin, judgement, sadness, failure, idolatry, war...its understandably depressing. But God...right in the middle of their ultimate failure, He reminds them that redemption is available. He says “You’re going to be yoked to me, you are my chosen people. Instead of sowing rebellion, sow righteousness, and reap unwavering love. Break up your useless, stubborn life and seek Me. I require righteousness, but I freely give it.”
This chapter changes me by reminding me the Bible is ultimately a story of redemption. The Bible contains stories that are scary, troubling, beautiful, sinful, inspiring. Our stories go through the same rise and fall. But God’s story, our story, is the gift of salvation, a free will to receive it, and redemption. “Let me see redemption win. Let me know the struggle ends”. 
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