Chapter 11 is one of the reasons why I wanted to study Hosea. It presents a picture of God that is compelling for all generations.
The chapter begins with a recounting of God’s relationship with is people in the past.
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son. (Hosea 11.1)
When God called His people to Himself, He had both deep affection and loyalty for them.
God loves humans because of His character, not because we are worthy. Charles Spurgeon’s book, “All of Grace,” beautifully summarizes this truth. We receive everything from God solely due to His gracious nature.
A sad commentary on human nature is that when God loves us and calls us out of slavery to sin, we often respond to His grace by rebelling against His will.
The more I called them,
the more they went from me;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and offering incense to idols. (Hosea 11.2)
Israel refused to respond to God’s guidance, and they demonstrated this refusal by worshipping the Baals and other false gods forbidden to them in the law.
I often realize that my greatest idol is my self-will. Either God reigns supreme, or my self-will usurps His role. This behavior mirrors the sin of the Israelites during Hosea’s time.
God shows His grace to us by being present, healing, and guiding us even when we are unaware of Him.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up in my arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
with bands of love.
I was to them like those
who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them. (Hosea 11.3-4)
These verses beautifully depict the God whom Jesus taught us to call “Our Father.” He is the one we serve and whom He urges us to love.
Human Guilt and God’s Discipline
The following verses in God’s statement to the Israelites foretell impending judgment. Observe the language used: “They refused to return to me,” “They were schemers,” and “They were bent on turning away from the Lord.”
They shall return to the land of Egypt,
and Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
The sword rages in their cities;
it consumes their oracle priests
and devours because of their schemes.
My people are bent on turning away from me.
To the Most High they call,
but he does not raise them up at all. (Hosea 11.5-7)
God declared that the people, refusing to return to Him, would instead return to the land of Egypt. Here, Egypt symbolizes defeat in battle and exile from the land.
Let’s not miss who is going to receive God’s judgment. First, it’s their king; then, it’s the clergy; finally, the people. When leaders fail their people, the people always suffer along with their leaders.
When reading the Bible, we do well to ask ourselves: How are we like the bad guys?
How have we refused to return to God? How have we been bent on turning away from God? How are we involved in human scheming?
Are we destined to the same judgment as happened to Israel in Hosea’s day?
God’s Grace Characterized
Admah and Zeboiim were two cities that were destroyed by Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s vision for Israel differs dramatically from these two cities. When He observes His beloved nation, His response is one of the most tender expressions of love in the Bible.
How can I give you up, 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.
I will not execute my fierce anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim,
for I am God and no mortal,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath. (Hosea 11.8-9)
These two verses vividly portray God’s character, which is unlike that of humans. Even when confronted with the worst forms of human betrayal, rebellion, and sin, He opts to redeem rather than destroy.
The cross epitomizes the full extent of human depravity, showing the extreme to which humans can go by crucifying the God who created them.
At the same time, it displays God’s love as Jesus witnesses human rebellion and prays, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’
Let’s celebrate this facet of God’s character and commit ourselves to wholehearted devotion to Him.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage from Hosea on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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