An Amazing God

Hosea 11:5-11

Egypt in Scripture almost always signifies a person getting their needs met outside of Christ.  Egypt also implies bondage, a place of dependence, and protection that leads to being in oppression.  For Israel it was all of these things, and yet often they looked to Egypt, but now listen to what God is telling the prophet Hosea; “They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me.” (Hosea 11:5)  In Egypt the people understood protection came with a high price, but God said you want a king other than me, I will allow that but you have no understanding of what you are asking.

Israel always wanted to do it their way, it mattered not that their way left God’s leadership out of the picture, so as much as it pains the heart of God He allowed it, and yes, He allowed them to go after gods that would enslave them.  So listen to the words God is sharing with Hosea in verses 6-7, “The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels.  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.” 

Something amazing is happening between verses seven and eight, it can only be explained as the grace of God.  Let me ask a question to you who are followers of Christ, have you ever had the attitude of Israel, wanting to be the captain of your own ship, an attitude of it may be wrong but I’m going for the gusto.  And how did that work; for me, it was the darkest year of my life, it left scars, very deep wounds, broken trust, broken relationship, but when I got to the end of myself, grace was there, restoration was there, forgiveness was there.

In verses eight and nine we see the grace of God, the love of a Father for his child who has rebelled, but in verses ten and eleven we see God as a mighty warrior going to battle for His chosen people, and bringing them out of captivity.  “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.  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; 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.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice