Reading: Hosea 7-14
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord (Hos. 11:8-11).
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt (Hos. 11:1). God loves us. He loves us no matter what we do, what we say, or how we act. He loves us just as much when we are defiantly turned away from Him as when we kneel at his feet. God loves us because it is His nature to do so. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (I John 4:16). God does not go against His nature (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; II Tim. 2:13).
God is always at work in our lives, even when we refuse to acknowledge His presence. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them (Hos. 11:3-4). He supports, provisions, heals, and guides us daily, often without credit or praise and frequently with complaints that He should be doing more. Even those who claim to belong to Him regularly take Him for granted. And My people are bent to backsliding from Me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt Him (11:7).
God has compassion for us, even when we deserve none. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. Through our actions, we have earned judgment—dam-nation and death are our just rewards. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Rom. 5:12). But instead of giving us what we deserve, God gave us His Son. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (I John 4:10). His compassion for us is so great that He is willing to pay our sin debt and wipe our slates clean, and all He asks in return is that we allow Him to do so. That’s it. If we acknowledge Christ as our Savior and accept Him as the Lord of our lives, He will do the rest.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them(Ezek. 36:26-27).
Thought For TodayGod’s wrath and mercy share a single motivation; both are applied to shepherd us to salvation.
Christ Revealed: In the son who was called out of Egypt (Hos. 11:1). This prophecy is twofold: one is a historical reference pertaining to Israel (Ex. 4:22-23); and the other is prophetic, looking to the sojourn of Christ as a child in Egypt (Matt. 2:14-15).
Word Studies: 9:1 hast gone a whoring = committed spiritual adultery and idolatry, were unfaithful to God (Israel was regarded as the wife of Jehovah. Isaiah 54:5; 62:4-5); cornfloor = threshing floor; 10:5 calves = golden calf idols; 10:11 to ride = to put in harness; 11:12 ruleth with God = is still considered faithful to God.
Pray For Staff: Judy McCrary • Country: Cameroon (23,130,708) Central Africa • Major Languages: English, French, 24 Major African Language Groups • Pressure on Christians from authorities and Muslims • 40% Indigenous Beliefs; 40% Christian; 20% Muslim • Prayer Suggestion: Trust the Lord for deliverance in times of trouble (Ps. 50:15).