Hosea 11-12
Dear RTB’ers,
Hosea, continued. I’ve often heard that the book of Hosea is basically a love story – a story of God’s love for Israel (and for us!) in spite of their many wanderings from that love (and our own wanderings!). First we saw that in the book’s first three chapters, with Hosea going back to take his wife from her life of harlotry. Now we see that today in different contexts: When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. (11:1) Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk… (11:3a) How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? (11:8a) God loves His people – Israel and us!
Hosea 11 was mostly an expression of God’s love for Israel, but Hosea 12 takes us back into Israel’s history, focusing primarily on Jacob, but also with an aside to Egypt and Moses. We see Jacob’s history in Hosea 12:3-4 and Hosea 12:12, while Moses was the prophet who led the people out of Egypt. (Hosea 12:13)
It’s always nice when we see a New Testament references in these Old Testament readings. Today, right away we see Matthew citing 11:1b, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Matthew 2:15b) Nice.
Blessings!