(Hosea 11:1-12)
1 When Israel was a youth I loved him,And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 The more they called them,
The more they went away from them;
They kept sacrificing to the Baals
And burning incense to idols.
3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them in My arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I pulled them along with cords of a man, with ropes of love,
And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent down and fed them.
5 They will not return to the land of Egypt;
But Assyria—he will be their king
Because they refused to return to Me.
6 And the sword will whirl against their cities,
And will destroy their oracle priests
And consume them, because of their counsels.
7 So My people are determined to turn from Me.
Though they call them to the One on high,
None at all exalts Him.
8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned over within Me,
All My compassions are kindled.
9 I will not carry out My fierce anger;
I will not destroy Ephraim again.
For I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst,
And I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the Lord,
He will roar like a lion;
Indeed He will roar,
And His sons will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt,
And like doves from the land of Assyria;
And I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.
12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies
And the house of Israel with deceit;
Judah is still unruly against God,
Even against the Holy One who is faithful.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Specifically in verses 8 and 9, We can see just how much God LOVES us, and desires to have a close, personal relationship with us!!! As for the nation of Israel, God has made covenants with them that will be fulfilled, but only in the Millennium, after they have accepted Jesus as their King, Lord and Savior, personally, as well as a nation.
The Lord God is holy and cannot have a relationship with sin. While He cannot force anyone to love, accept and believe in Him, He has provided the way, through His work on the cross. He took all the punishment that we deserve - onto Himself - so that anyone who humbly goes to Him for His salvation and repents, is forgiven and given eternal life and blessings. This is why He came to earth in flesh! And this is why we celebrate His birth! Because He came with the purpose of providing the way to this free gift of salvation.
It only benefits us to run to Him, rely on Him, and appreciate Him for being our all in all!!! He is the only One who can change us from the inside out, in order to complete us and give us a joy, hope and peace that goes beyond anything this world can provide! With the greatest intentions that bring about His awesome purpose and fulfillment, the Lord is so good, patient, faithful, gracious and loving!!!
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