Hosea 11

Hosea 11:1

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

When Israel was but newly entered into league and covenant with me, then I loved him; and called that son of my love out of the bondage of Egypt, by the hands of Moses and Aaron.

Hosea 11:2

As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim.

As those their holy leaders and their ensuing successors called them, so they perversely turned their backs upon them, and sacrificed to Baalim.

Hosea 11:3

I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

I did with Ephraim, as mothers or nurses do by their little infants: I taught him to go; holding him by the arm, while he moved his feet; but they considered not the great favours that I did them, and did neither answer nor acknowledge my mercies.

Hosea 11:5

He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the

Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. He shall not go any more into the land of Egypt, to seek aid; but the Assyrian shall surprise him, and be his king, because they refused to return to me.

Hosea 11:7

And my people are bent to backsliding from me:

though they called them to the Most High, none at all would exalt him. My people Israel are bent to backsliding from me: although my prophets called unto them, and persuaded them to turn unto the Most High; yet they would not obey, nor be won to exalt and glorify their God.

Hosea 11:8

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I

deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. O Ephraim, how shall I carry myself towards thee? If I should regard thee according to thy demerits, I should give thee up, O Israel, to my fearfullest judgments; but how can I endure to deal thus with thee? how can I make thee a sad spectacle of my wrath, like those five cities of Sodom, which were consumed with fire from heaven? Surely it goes against my heart, to think thus to proceed with thee: I cannot but revoke that dreadful sentence, which I was ready to pass against thee:

Hosea 11:9

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will

not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. For I am a gracious and immutable God; and not a man, subject either to passion or change: I, that am the Holy One of Israel, am yet still in the midst of thee, by my favour, and thy (howsoever impured) worship; and I will not turn to thee, in the extremity of my wrath, to consume thee.

Hosea 11:10

They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like

a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. Those of my Church, whom I shall choose from both Jews and Gentiles, shall walk holily and obediently, in the ways of God: he shall send forth the strong and mighty voice of his Gospel, and shall call all his elect ones: and when he shall powerfully speak unto their hearts, his children shall awfully submit themselves to him, even from the utmost ends of the world.

Hosea 11:11

They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.

They shall come with an awful reverence unto God, and shall hasten their address unto him; upon the wings of their holy desire, out of all lands, even out of Egypt and Assyria, and all those parts where they have been most distressed; and I will establish them in my Church, saith the Lord.

Hosea 11:12

Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

In the mean time, Ephraim makes a profession of my name, but false and counterfeit; and the house of Israel serves me, but in hypocrisy; as being full of idolatry and infection: but Judah, as yet, had not swerved from God, but continued faithful, as the true children of those holy Patriarchs.