Hosea 11:1. When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
God remembers what he did for us when we were young; and sin against him is much aggravated by his long kindness to us. He brings this up against his rebellious people, «When Israel was a child, then I loved him.» Some of you may remember your childhood with deep regret when you used to sing your hymn, and bow your knees on your mother's lap. Times have greatly changed since then, but God remembers them.
Hosea 11:2. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
These people only had to be called away, and away they went. There are some of that sort. You have only to beckon them anywhere. Like a dog that is whistled to, they will follow anybody's call. They leave God for anything, for nothing. These people went and forgot the true God, and burnt incense to graven images.
Hosea 11:3. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
God describes himself as acting like a nurse that holds a child up by its arms and teaches it its first steps. Yet they did not know what God was doing for them. God has done great things for many of us, and perhaps we have never recognized his command. Years of mercy, and yet never a day of gratitude. It is sad that it should be so.
Hosea 11:4. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
As the good husbandman, when the oxen come to the end of the field, takes off the yoke and puts on the noseband, so has God often done with us in the day of our trouble. He has unyoked us, and he has relieved our wants, and fed us. Yet we have forgotten him.
Hosea 11:5-6. He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
When men will have their own way, God sometimes lets them have their way, and that turns out to be the most unhappy thing that can be. They make a rod for their own backs. They pile the faggots for their own burning. It is a great pity that it should be so, but often and often have we seen it.
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.
There is a propensity in the human heart to go away from God even in the hearts of God's own people. Oh! how sad it is that, though often called to God by the voice of Providence, and by the call of his Word, yet none at all would exalt him!
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.
God represents himself as holding a controversy within himself, «These people I must punish. These people I love. I shall have to give them up. I cannot give them up.» Justice debating with mercy, and mercy triumphant over justice.
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.
Remember that when God entered into Sodom and saw its sin, then he destroyed it; but he determines to have pity upon Samaria, and not to enter into it lest, seeing it, he should feel compelled to destroy it.
Hosea 11:10. They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion:
If God can make his people follow him when he roars like a lion, how we ought to follow him. who is the Lamb of God, that takes our sins upon him!
Hosea 11:10. When he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
When God puts on the lion's form, and his grave, majestic voice is heard,
full of thundering threatenings, then men are constrained and tremble.
Hosea 11:11. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria:
They shall come on hasty wings, trembling along, to find a shelter.
Hosea 11:11-12. And I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD. Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit:
It is a dreadful thing when men go to God and, as it were, make a ring round about him, and compass him about with falsehood and with lies. Many profess to worship God when they are not worshipping at all. Their bodies are in the assembly of the saints, but their minds are far away.
Hosea 11:12. But Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
And it was to the honour of Judah that it was so. When others are false, then is the time for God's servants to be true. If you held your tongue before, speak out for truth and God in the day when God is compassed about with deceit.