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Meditation

Hi there,

Today, in a powerful testament to the immutable nature of God's Love, His lamentation gives way to a profound declaration of His enduring love for Israel despite the persistent and unrepentant sin of His people.

The four "How can I ?" questions aren't expressions of doubt so much as statements of fact. God's nature is Love, and so His compassion and mercy are inevitable, given his covenant with His people.

As He declares in verse 9, he is God, not a man, and so this mercy and forgiveness is beyond our human capability and comprehension.

God's forgiveness is potent, loving, and unyielding. The essence of a love and compassion that surpasses all human understanding.

Today's text is Hosea 11: 8-9 (in black)

We'll copy out the balance of the chapter tomorrow 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. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.​

Lamentations 3:22-23

​
​Andy

God's Word In Your Hand​

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