Scripture: Hosea 11:1-11
God’s Love for Israel
11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.
5 “Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?
6 A sword will flash in their cities;
it will devour their false prophets
and put an end to their plans.
7 My people are determined to turn from me.
Even though they call me God Most High,
I will by no means exalt them.
8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboyim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I devastate Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man—
the Holy One among you.
I will not come against their cities.
10 They will follow the Lord;
he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come from Egypt,
trembling like sparrows,
from Assyria, fluttering like doves.
I will settle them in their homes,”
declares the Lord.
Observation:
Although God treated Israel with love and compassion, they still turned away from God and looked to lesser gods, not gods at all but objects of their own creation. Yet God so loves Israel that he will still show them compassion. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man- he Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.” (Hosea 11:8-10)
Application:
The prophet Hosea continues to state that God’s chosen people have continually turned their backs on God and have followed other gods, which are not gods but objects of their own making. We can be that way as well. We can prioritize things, places, and people in our lives and hold them higher than our God who gives us life. Our God wants us to seek him first, his kingdom and his righteousness and everything else will be added unto us as well. (Matthew 6:33)
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us as your reconciled children to always seek you first. Help us not to turn away from you, even a little. Help us to be guided by Your Word that brings us life everlasting. Help us to concede our will to your will for our lives, for you are the way, the truth and the life! Amen.