Meditation

Hi there,

Today's verses are the final act in the story of God's nurturing love for Israel, His lamentation over their persistent disobedience, the declaration of punishment, compassion, and now His ultimate restoration of them.

Hosea 11 has given us a complete picture of the expressions of God's love. It is nurturing and rigorous. Compassionate and ultimately restorative.

In today's verses, God's authority, expressed as the roaring of a lion, commands Israel's oppressors and captors to release them. Their swift and nervous return is expressed as trembling birds. With God ultimately "settling them in their homes."

Bringing us full circle to God's promise to care for and be the provider of protection for his people...despite their sin.

Today's text is Hosea 11: 10-12 (in black)

I've provided the full text for context and clarity and the opportunity to catch up on any missed verses.

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

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9

​
​Andy

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