B7-devotions

Hosea 11:8-11

Devotions for Saturday 6th March

After the significant change of emphasis in the early part of Hosea 11, the third and fourth stanzas of Hosea’s prophesy in this chapter are unique and profoundly challenging. All of Hosea’s prophecies up until this point have indicated God’s absolute opposition to the rebellion of His people and His punishment of those sins. But here in our passage today, Hosea describes a significant change of heart. Instead of punishing Israel, for her sins, God says; ‘How can I give up on you, Ephraim? ... my compassion is stirred. I will not carry out my fierce anger ...!’ (11:8,9). Why does God have this change of heart? In order to understand this, we must refer back to the first part of Hosea 11, just previously.

Yesterday, we read that Hosea changed the basic picture of God’s relationship with Israel from that of husband and wife, to that of a parent and child (11:1-4), but God was still adamantly opposed to the sin and rebellion of Israel (11:5-7). Now in todays passage (11:8-9), we discover that this change of picture yields a new perspective, for God has second thoughts about His harsh judgement of Israel, even though their sin continues. In the last part of our passage, Hosea utters a profoundly forward looking prophecy that looks forward to a time when Israel punishment will be over and the people will come home; ‘His children will come trembling from the west ...’ (11:10)! They are not perfect and never will be, but Hosea has finally caught a glimpse of God’s long term plan to be faithful to His people despite their sins; their ‘lies ... deceit ... and restlessness’ (11:12). Of course, this is not a total vision of God’s plan of salvation, but it is the start, and God reveals that His last word is not judgement, but love. The significant part of Hosea’s prophecy is this; we can see God’s heart of love if we perceive Him not as the husband of His people (as previously in his prophecies), but as their Father (as revealed in 11:1-4).

This prophecy has many implications for us, but Hosea does not develop the idea much further. However, as one of the first prophets whose works have survived in written form, this revelation is new. Hosea’s prophecies are similar to those of his contemporary, Amos, who was also unable to see much hope for Israel (see 8:1f.). Yet both Hosea and Amos were led to prophesy something beyond the mere judgement of God. Amos concludes his prophecies with a few words of hope for redemption in Judah (9:11f.), and this parallels Hosea’s brief prophecy of hope in our passage today. As these two great prophets spoke, another great prophet was beginning his ministry in Jerusalem, named Isaiah. God intended to use him to prophesy a fuller answer to our questions about God’s justice and His love. Isaiah eventually spoke about a ‘child to be born’ (Isaiah 7:1, 9:6, 11:1,2) who would one day become the Lord’s ‘suffering servant’ (Isaiah 53), and provide the means of God’s redemption. But before Isaiah could deliver this powerful word, Amos and Hosea were used by God to proclaim the vital message that God’s love rises above His anger at sin.

Hosea’s prophetic ‘breakthrough’ was remarkable. Considering his circumstances, perhaps Hosea had to work hard at turning away from his personal angst about his wife to take up his responsibilities as a parent, and this was used by God to help him appreciate the ‘father-heart’ of God. He had to place his hope not in the woman he loved, but in the children he had raised, who were free do make their own choices. Over centuries, parents have learned about the importance of remaining faithful and loving to children who are rebellious, and although no one can guarantee successful relationships within families, we can all agree they are based on love alone.

Hosea was led to the conclusion that God was like a father who would not stop loving, and this theme is emphasised by repetition in the first stanza; ’how can I give you up ... how can I hand you over ... my heart turns within me ... my compassion is stirred’ (11:8). Even today, we need to be reminded that God feels love just like we feel love, and Hosea provides this evidence. Like parents who always want to welcome children back home, God looks forward to the return of His children (11:10,11), still troubled but loved. Spiritually, there is only a small distance between what Hosea says here and the parable of the prodigal son!

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8 How can I give you up, 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 turns over within me;

my compassion is stirred.

9 I will not carry out my fierce anger;

I will not turn and destroy Ephraim;

for I am God and not man,

the Holy One in your midst,

I will not come in wrath.

10 They will go after the Lord,

He will roar like a lion;

And when he roars,

his children will come trembling

from the west.

11 They come trembling like birds from Egypt,

and like doves from the land of Assyria;

and I will settle them in their homes,

says the Lord.

12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,

and the house of Israel with deceit;

And Judah is still restless with God,

with the faithful Holy One.

Wonderful and glorious Lord, we thank You for Your love and care for us; but as we do so, we appeal to You for the lives the thousands of people who are unable to gather openly to worship You because of persecution and intimidation. May these Christians know they are not forgotten, and may God’s people throughout the world work hard to liberate all who are oppressed in this way. May Your church be built and may it grow before the eyes of the world, we pray! AMEN

The Lord is choosing His people;

He is constantly seeking them out.

He does not chose people because they are good or great,

But because they know they need help,

And are willing to trust that God is good.

He does not chose people because they pray or read the Bible,

But because they want to do their best

And are willing to love and serve others.

He does not chose people because they have conquered sin,

But because they know they need to,

And are willing to give their lives to Christ.

He does not chose people because they have special graces,

But because they are open to the Spirit

And are willing to accept His guidance.

The Lord is choosing His people;

And His book is not yet closed; it is open ...

Prayer ideas

Sit quietly for a period of time and wait on the Lord. Let Him speak to you, and listen to what He has to say

On-going prayers

Pray for Christian Aid agencies Pray for those who are setting up charitable work to address community needs; pray for wisdom and guidance
Pray for Iraq. Pray for peace and the cessation of violence
Give thanks to God for the blessing of food and drink

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