BELOVED CHILD
Opening Prayer
Coming to your Word today, Father, thank you for this gift that enables me to know who you are and of your great plan of redemption.
Read HOSEA 11:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
God’s Love for Israel
11 “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.[a]
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.
Footnotes
- Hosea 11:2 Septuagint; Hebrew them
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are there loved ones who have turned away from God that you can bring before his throne of grace today?For a few moments, amid Hosea’s damning message of judgment, it’s as though we’re allowed to step aside and overhear an intimate reflection of God. Here was the anguish of a loving parent (vv. 1–4): ‘I taught you to walk, I healed your hurts, I led you with kindness, I picked you up, I carried you, I fed you, I called you when you turned away from me…’ Yet, God’s children were determined to go their own way (even back to Egypt, vv. 5–7). But God didn’t give up (v. 8).
The Israelites’ behavior would have consequences. Refusal to re- pent of their idolatrous and untruthful living would result in violent defeat and bring an end to all their pretentious plans (v. 6). Mere lip-service to God wasn’t enough (v. 7), but…
This time, surely, they’d gone too far. But how could beloved children ever be given up (v. 8)? Remember the parable of Hosea’s own life: ‘not loved’ becomes ‘my loved one’ (1:6; 2:1). God is more compassionate than we can imagine (vv. 8, 9). In response to their waywardness, he would come like a roaring lion (v. 10). And then, in humility—from all directions—his people would return trembling, and God himself would settle them in their homes (vv. 10, 11). God is holy, but he loves his children.
Apply
In what ways can you encourage others to see God’s great love today?
Closing prayer
Lord God, I pray that all the nations of the world will hear your ‘roar’ and turn to follow you.
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