I like pancakes. I’ve eaten mountains of them. Flip them over at just the right point, leave them on the griddle for just the right time, and what a delightful meal they make! But if you don’t flip them over they burn on the bottom while staying raw on top – YUCK!
God described His people: “Ephraim is a cake unturned” (Hosea 7:8b). Being the largest of the twelve tribes, Ephraim’s name referred to the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel. For 200 years they had been steeped in idolatry and immorality. The Southern Kingdom (Judah) was but little better and sometimes worse. They all were utterly unfit to be God’s people.
How did they stray and become a cake not turned? “Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples” (Hosea 7:8a). Israel’s persistent desire to be like other nations proved to be her undoing. God had specifically warned them not to be like their pagan neighbors (Deuteronomy 18:9). Unfortunately, “they mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works” (Psalm 106:35). So they became half-baked; while paying lip service to God, they weren’t dedicated to Him. God will not accept half-hearted service or compromise of the truth any more than you or I would accept a half-raw pancake at the restaurant.
The Israelites thought teaming up with their pagan neighbors helped them. “They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria” (Hosea 7:11). Instead, it made Israel weaker. “Aliens have devoured his strength, but he does not know it” (7:9).
Some brethren today think church growth comes by mimicking the denominations. Like ancient Israel, they claim they are staying true to God when in fact they are compromising the gospel and weakening the church. The result is a half-baked system with just enough Bible to make it look quasi-Christian, but thoroughly saturated with unscriptural philosophies and the traditions of men.
Let us never compromise the truth, but serve God whole-heartedly as directed by His word. Anything less is like offering Him a half-raw pancake. Nauseating!
–Joe Slater
