B6-devotions

Hosea 11:1-7

Devotions for Friday 5th March

In the first letter of John, we read these words; ‘God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them’ (1 John 4:16). How desperately God wanted His people of Old Testament times to know this truth about Him. Here, the prophet Hosea dramatically switches the basic illustration behind his prophecies, to throw new light on his message about Israel’s dire sins and the urgent need for repentance. Israel is no longer the arrogant prostitute in rebellion against her husband, she is the youngster determined to go her own way against the wishes of her parents (11:7), causing them to look back with anguished fondness to memories of the younger child, once so loved (11:1-4). Every parent understands this picture of Hosea’s, and it is heartbreaking. No other passage of Scripture speaks about God’s love with such tender compassion, and this prophecy is one of the most moving in the Old Testament.

Hosea’s words stop us in our tracks because they are not expected. We have stuck with Hosea through chapter after chapter of agonising prophecy about the rebellion of Israel in the last few decades of the northern kingdom. So we would not have been surprised if verses 1 to 4 of this reading did not exist, and we simply carried on from chapter 10, straight into the destruction prophesied in verses 5 to 7.

However, chapter 11 is different. In the studies for today and tomorrow, we will find that Hosea 11:1-11 contains four stanzas of poetry, the first two of which are in today’s reading. The first stanza, as we have seen, changes the prophetic picture of God and Israel, but the second reiterates Hosea’s prophetic gloom. Then in tomorrow’s reading, two more stanzas echo the first two but change the theme subtly; and we realise that Hosea is pointing the way beyond the anguish of all the prophecies we have read in his book so far. Tomorrow’s reading is crucial!

For today, we are left to wonder at Hosea’s words. Were his children the inspiration for these verses? In the first chapter of Hosea we read about the birth of his own son Jezreel, and then the two who were born out of Gomer’s prostitution, with names meaning ‘Not-pitied’, and ‘Not-my-people’. Can we imagine the disruption and strife of a family divided by the unstable relationship of Hosea and Gomer? Can we imagine the tensions and stresses of trying to raise children who knew, through their names, that they were conceived out of wedlock? Did Hosea know what it was like to try to control not just a wandering wife, but disruptive children? We can never know for sure; but Hosea captures perfectly the agony of parents who have lost the heart and the love of a child who has grown up and rejected them. They are left looking back with longing on years when love was given and received.

So the reality for Hosea was that Israel had sinned and moved further away from her Lord (11:2). She became more entrenched in the worship of the Ba’als, and rebellious against the One who had led her and tended her (11:3,4). Just as a child grows up and makes choices for better or worse, Israel had made her choice to rebel, and she would pay the consequences. The nation would cease to exist, which is the meaning of the phrase ‘return to the land of Egypt’ (11:4), and this, at the hands of the Assyrian army (11:4). And still, the people worshipped their alternative gods who could do nothing to help (11:7)!

Hosea’s words illuminate the compassionate heart of God. So how can it be that Israel is cast aside like this? Surely this cannot be the end for the love of God for His people? Tomorrow we will discover that Hosea’s change of imagery heralds a new twist to his prophecy and the possibility of hope. Israel is unrepentant and will pay for her sins, but God is about to reveal the beginnings of a plan.

go to discipleship

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 The more I called them,

the more they went from me;

they kept sacrificing to the Ba’als,

and offering incense to idols.

3 But it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

taking them up in my arms;

but they did not know

that I healed them.

4 I led them along with cords of compassion,

with bonds of love

I was to them like those

who lift children to their cheeks.

I bent down to them and fed them.

5 They will return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria will be their king,

because they refused to return to me.

6 The sword will rage in their cities,

it will consume their gates,

and devour because of their schemes.

7 My people are bent on turning away from me.

To the Most High they call,

but he will not raise them up at all.

Lord God, we sometimes wonder why our lives take the paths they do. We seem to find ourselves in all sorts of situations we had never envisaged, and we wonder what You are doing with us. Keep close to us, we pray, and give us the faith to trust You, for whatever happens. Then, in Your providence, show us more of Your glory and grace, so that we may be encouraged, and praise You forever: AMEN

Jesus Christ, You are love ...

and our hearts are fed by Your compassion:

Jesus Christ, You are peace ...

and we rest in the intimacy of Your care:

Jesus Christ, You are joy ...

and our spirits are enthralled by Your presence:

Jesus Christ, You are power ...

and we are privileged to serve in Your strength:

Jesus Christ, You are wisdom ...

and our minds are thrilled by Your knowledge:

Jesus Christ, You are God

And we are blessed to be called Your servants.

Prayer ideas

Watch, read or listen to the news, and pray for the people who are in the news and the pressures they feel.

On-going prayers

Pray for Christian Aid agencies Pray for those who are responsible for advocacy, for money to be raised in an honourable and godly way
Give thanks to God for the blessing of food and drink
Pray for industries experiencing difficult trading conditions today

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