The Lord’s Love for Israel
Today’s reading started out comparing the Lord and Israel to a father and son relationship; having Israel be the wayward son rather than the unfaithful wife.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.”
-Hosea 11:1
However, the more they were called to the Lord, the more they went away from Him. They sacrificed to the Baals and burnt offerings to idols. One of the most tender moments in the Old Testament is here when the it says the Lord taught Ephraim to walk.
“Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of kindness,
with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases
the yoke on their jaws,
and I bent down to them and fed them.”
-Hosea 11:3-4
The tender tone changed though to threat of exile and said that Assyria would be their king. The sword would rage against their cities and devour them because the
“My people are bent on turning away from me,
and though they call out to the Most High,
he shall not raise them up at all.”
-Hosea 11:7
The Lord’s compassion overcame His wrath and He decided not to destroy Ephraim.
“My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
They shall go after the Lord;
he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling from the west;”
-Hosea 11:8-10
The Lord’s Indictment of Israel and Judah
The Lord had an indictment against Judah and would punish Jacob according to their ways, meaning all the descendants of their father Jacob. In their deceitfulness, Israel and Judah were living up to the name of their forefather.
The people were reliving the experiences of Father Jacob and had to return to God, just as Jacob was called back to Bethel.
“So you, by the help of your God, return,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
-Hosea 12:6
The Lord’s Relentless Judgment on Israel
“In accordance with Jacob’s blessing, Ephraim became a powerful tribe, from which came such prominent leaders as Joshua and Jeroboam. The wages of sin was death, and the end of the nation was at hand.” They sinned more and more and made false idols of silver. They would be like the morning mist, dew, smoke that goes away early, all in symbolism for Ephraim who would soon vanish.
“But I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
you know no God but me,
and besides me their is no savior.”
-Hosea 13:4
A Plea to Return to the Lord
“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Take with you words and return to the Lord;
say to him,
‘Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips.’
Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.
I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.
They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like the evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit.
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.
-Hosea 14:1-9