Hosea chapter 11

Israel rejected the LORD God and turned to idols.

 


 

ISRAEL REJECTED THE LORD GOD AND TURNED TO IDOLS

 

VERSE 1. “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

HCSB translation. When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

out of Egypt I called My son. This happened when the LORD God called the Hebrew people out of Egypt.

And it is a prophecy that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ:

Matthew 2:15. and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

 

VERSE 2. They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.

They called to them, so they went from them. This is a little difficult to understand.

Here is our own transliteration:

The more the prophets called the Israelites, the more the Israelites distanced themselves from the prophets.

 

VERSE 3. Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by his arms; but they didn’t know that I healed them.

 

VERSE 4. I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.

 

VERSE 5. “They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.

 

VERSE 6. The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.

 

VERSE 7. My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.

 

VERSE 8. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.

my compassion is aroused. We might not expect the LORD God to say this.

 

VERSE 9. I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One among you; and I will not come in wrath.

NAB translation. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.

I will not let the flames consume you. The LORD God is always coming up with fresh ways to spare us.

 

VERSE 10. They will walk after the LORD, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.

 

VERSE 11. They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses,” says the LORD.

I will settle them. The word “settle” reminds us of the word “restore” in 1 Peter chapter 5:

1 Peter 5:10. The Supreme God of all graciousness, who called you to his perpetual glorification through Christ, will himself restore you, confirm you, strengthen your spiritual knowledge and power, and settle you: all this after you have experienced the Paschal Mystery for a little while. (our paraphrase)

In the fullness of time, the Supreme God of all graciousness will fully restore us. Read more »

in their homes. To have a “home” is a great blessing. Even the word “home” itself is rich in meaning.

 

VERSE 12. Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

 


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HOSEA

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

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