Project 119: Hosea 11:1-11
| Project 119 | Hayden Walker
When I was in the eighth grade, my best friend and I were in the school library browsing the shelves. As we approached a section of history texts, a librarian appeared and softly declared, “Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.” The moment has stuck with me over the years and seems to prove true. Understanding the past can encourage us to make choices which will bear better outcomes for our future. For the nation of Israel, no historical event defined their past quite like the exodus from Egypt. It was the defining redemptive activity of the Old Testament. The nation of Israel certainly knew about this event, but perhaps the knowledge was rote memory, not an understanding which impacted their lives with thankfulness toward the God who delivered them.
The imagery of the exodus shapes Hosea 11. God reminded the people of their past deliverance from Egypt, calling Israel His beloved son (Hosea 11:1). This usage of the word “son” in verse one also ties back to the plague which immediately preceded the exodus. While the firstborn sons of Egypt were killed on the night of the Passover, God spared His “son” (Israel) through the exodus from their land of slavery (Exodus 11-12). Yet the people of Israel were ungrateful children; they began their idolatry at the foot of Mount Sinai (Exodus 32). Their false worship continued and escalated into Hosea’s day (Hosea 11:2). Indeed, their wickedness deserved judgment. Would God send them to return to their bonds of slavery in Egypt?
In verse 5, we read that God will not send them into Egyptian bondage again, but they will be exiled to Assyria for their unfaithfulness. This punishment of exile may seem harsh, but it is in fact merciful compared to what the people deserved. For their idolatry, the Israelites should be destroyed like the cities of Admah and Zeboiim, cities completely destroyed by God along with Sodom and Gomorrah (Deuteronomy 29:23). However, God’s compassion warmed toward Israel (11:8-9). He could not destroy Israel as He destroyed other wicked peoples. Instead of giving the people what their sin deserved, God promised that He would preserve a remnant in the impending Assyrian exile (Hosea 11:10-11). He would not allow His children to be totally obliterated, though they had forgotten God’s miraculous salvific power towards them in the exodus.
From this chapter, we see the character of God on display. He will not tolerate sin; wickedness deserves punishment. However, He is a God of great mercy, His compassion is “warm and tender” (Hosea 11:8, ESV). It is only in the cross that we see this judgment and mercy meet. Because of his great love, Christ bore upon Himself the destruction we deserve (Ephesians 2:3-5). Hallelujah, what a savior!
Hosea 11:1-11 (ESV):
The LORD’s Love for Israel
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more they were called,
the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
3 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.
4 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.
5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt,
but Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword shall rage against their cities,
consume the bars of their gates,
and devour them because of their own counsels.
7 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.
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 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.
10 They shall go after the LORD;
he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling from the west;
11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
and like doves from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.