Meditation

Hi there,

We'll spend the bulk of this week in the current series "God is Love," copying out Hosea chapter 11.

Written in the 8th Century BC, Hosea the prophet is commanded by God to marry Gomer, a prostitute, as a living example to the Northern Kingdom of their unfaithfulness to Him and to deliver a message of judgment for Israel's idolatry.

But the book also emphasizes God's enduring love, offering hope for restoration following repentance. Showing God's eternal faithfulness to an unfaithful people.

Chapter 11, particularly, reads as a poignant depiction of God as a compassionate and conflicted parent who sees the self-inflicted suffering of Israel and cannot bear to see His beloved child suffer.

We will all recognize the loving concern and hope invested in a child as we teach them to walk or bend down to feed them.

A picture of God's enduring care for His people:- Us.

Today's text is Hosea 11: 1-4 (in black)

We'll copy out the balance of the chapter during the week. I've provided it for context and clarity.

God’s Love for Israel

“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.

Israel’s Sin

¹² Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
even against the faithful Holy One

Encouragement

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Lamentations 3:22​
​

Andy

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