"When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
But the more I called Israel,
the further they went from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
I let them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck
and bent down to feed them.
Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?
Swords will flash in their cities,
will destroy the bars of their gates
and put an end to their plans.
My people are determined to turn from me.
Even if they call to the Most High,
he will by no means exalt them.
How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devestate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man--
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath.
They will follow the Lord;
he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling from the west.
They will come trembling
like birds from Egypt,
like doves from Assyria.
I will settle them in their homes,
declares the Lord."
Hosea 11:1-11
This verse just taught me a lot about the Lords heart. You can hear the yearning He feels for His people. The pain He feels because they turn their backs on him, but you can also hear the pride He feels in His people when He speaks of teaching them how to walk. These verses speak of the Lords heart and it is not scary or mean, it is truly Love as evidenced in these few short verses
and out of Egypt I called my son.
But the more I called Israel,
the further they went from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
I let them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck
and bent down to feed them.
Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?
Swords will flash in their cities,
will destroy the bars of their gates
and put an end to their plans.
My people are determined to turn from me.
Even if they call to the Most High,
he will by no means exalt them.
How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I turn and devestate Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man--
the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath.
They will follow the Lord;
he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling from the west.
They will come trembling
like birds from Egypt,
like doves from Assyria.
I will settle them in their homes,
declares the Lord."
Hosea 11:1-11
This verse just taught me a lot about the Lords heart. You can hear the yearning He feels for His people. The pain He feels because they turn their backs on him, but you can also hear the pride He feels in His people when He speaks of teaching them how to walk. These verses speak of the Lords heart and it is not scary or mean, it is truly Love as evidenced in these few short verses
