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Meditation

Hi there,

Today's verses stand in sharp contrast to the final lines of the passage we copied yesterday and to the ones that follow in the coming days.

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There's a natural pacing to the ebb and flow of the lines in Hosea chapter 11... "I loved him...but they went away from me...I led them...they refused to repent..."

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God expresses his anguish over the impending judgment upon Israel his holiness demands as a result of their knowing and persistent disobedience. Whereas the tone yesterday was ultimately warm and almost sentimental, these lines are both stern and sorrowful.

Accentuating the depth of God's love and the pain caused by Israel's waywardness and their hollow professions of faith. Israel is trading on past faithfulness, whereas God demands daily faith.

His relationship with His people encompasses both love and righteous judgment.

A judgment that is as necessary as it is inherently loving.

Today's text is Hosea 11:5-7 (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.

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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.

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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?

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6 A sword will flash in their cities;
it will devour their false prophets
and put an end to their plans.

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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.
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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.
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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

Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.​

Psalm 78:38

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​Andy

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