Hosea 11: God’s Determination

​When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more they were called,
    the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
    and burning offerings to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
    I took them up by their arms,
    but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of kindness,
    with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
    and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt,
    but Assyria shall be their king,
    because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword shall rage against their cities,
    consume the bars of their gates,
    and devour them because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me,
    and though they call out to the Most High,
    he shall not raise them up at all.
 
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
    How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
    my compassion grows warm and tender.

9 I will not execute my burning anger;
    I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
    the Holy One in your midst,
    and I will not come in wrath.
 
10 They shall go after the Lord;
    he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
    his children shall come trembling from the west;
11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
    and like doves from the land of Assyria,
    and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.
12  Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
    and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.
 
Meditation
God is more passionate about recapturing the hearts of His people than we are passionate to rebel against Him by giving our hearts to lesser loves. Like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, God’s love longs for His children to come home to His open arms.
 
God’s love is demonstrated in the adoption of His people, children He has called, taught, lead, helped, and fed (1-4).  The intimate descriptions reveal a God who has accommodated to manifest His loving-kindness.
 
The more God called and cared, the more His people moved away (2). The depth of sin, rejection, and rebellion (5-7) are contrasted with God’s steadfast love for His people (8-9). When God’s children rebel against His love, God’s “heart recoils within Him, His compassion grows warm and tender” (8).  
 
God’s love cannot give up (8) and God’s just wrath against our rebellion must be satisfied (9). God promises His justice will roar like a lion when Israel is sent into exile (10), one day to “returning (them) home” to walk with Him (11).  
 
God’s determination to bring delinquent children home is ultimately accomplished by Jesus going into exile through His death on the cross. In Christ’s death, God’s just wrath was quenched so God’s children can come to life in Him, in faith returning home to the open arms of our Father! God desires to reconcile, restore, and renew His children through His love, His compassion compelling us to come to our senses, return to His loving- kindness, and walk with Him.

Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially God’s relentless commitment to bring His rebellious children home?
 
-Are you comfortable with the fact that your rebellion arouses God’s compassion, knowing you cannot out sin God’s sovereign grace?
 
-God’s love invites us to come to our senses and return home, to walk with Him. Where do you need to return to walking with God? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.