The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1472   Hos kc 18

"Do you think it gives our Father any pleasure to have to chastise His children?"

Chapter eleven in this great Book of Hosea gives us a real personal and heart warming glimpse into the tender compassionate love of our heavenly Father, particularly in view of the fact that if you have studied Hosea (which means salvation) to this point, then there should be no doubt whatsoever that our Father means business concerning the chastisement of His children for their rebellion and idolatry. He warned them over and over again that unless they repented He would use the "correction rod" of the Assyrian to have them taken captive and they would be scattered among the nations. And you know what? History documents that He did exactly as He promised in His Word after their refusal to return unto Him. Therefore we KNOW from FACT that God keeps His word! His track record shows that He always has! So your faith should be increased to the level where there is no doubt that He always WILL!

That means you can count on the Assyrian (antichrist) coming and taking our people spiritually captive as sure as the sun coming up in the morning! Are you ready?

The question is, "Do you think it gives our Father any pleasure to have to chastise His children?"  Remember we learned in chapter six, verse six, that all He really wants, all His heart desires, is that His children love Him and get to know Him through His Word. Hosea 6:6 "For I desired mercy [love], and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Yes, like all loving parents who exercise Godly discipline know, it really hurts to have to severely punish your children for their disobedience!

We will now read of our Father's love for his son(s).

Note: If you have a Companion Bible you will notice the structure on page 1220 outlining the "Repeated Alternation" (back and forth) contained in verses 1 through 7 which contrasts "His Love" with "Their Conduct"! Following that outline serves to enhance our understanding of our Father's feelings and compassion for His children.

HIS LOVE

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

This verse really expresses the immeasurable depth of God's love. You see, although this Book of Hosea is written concerning His plan of salvation and restoration back into one nation of all the tribes of the House of Israel, there would soon be another "Son called out of Egypt" who would provide salvation for all of God's children, "yellow, black, and white, for they are all precious in His sight."

Matthew 2:14
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

[15] And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

The incredible thing about our Father's plan is that while His children dwell in the land of Egypt (captivity) at the same time they are protected! Isn't He amazing?

Hosea 11:2
As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

The more God warned them and called to His children the more they continued to sacrifice unto Baalim who could not "Bail 'em" out of the chastisement to come their way, could he?

[3] I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms;...

Like little toddlers He took them by their arms and taught them how to walk! He also taught them how He would deliver them (out of bondage - Egypt) and care for them (a cloud by day, pillar of fire by night) and protect them (Red Sea) and provide for them (manna from heaven). Yes, just as a parent also takes his or her little child into his arms and nurtures and cares and protects that child, this He did for Ephraim!

... but they knew not that I healed them.

(Personally, I think God gives us teenagers to help us understand ingratitude and insensibility.)

[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.

He lovingly guided them as if He were using gentle reins, easing their burdens and providing for them.

Note: The analogy used in verse 4 is that of a caring, kindly husbandman who would go to the extra trouble to loosen the bits and unharness the yoke around the necks of his paired oxen just to allow them to more freely eat the food he places before them.

[5] He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

Remember Hos. 8:12? They were warned way back in the law, yet they refused to return to Him and keep His commands. Therefore the Assyrian (one of the names of Satan in Isaiah 14), shall come and take them away and be their king. (Though this happened historically, spiritually it is yet future. You see, history repeats itself so history is really prophecy, isn't it? Think about it according to 1 Cor. 10:11.)

[6] And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

Here are a few applicable proverbs:

Proverbs 14:12 & Proverbs 16:25
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 3:5-7
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

[6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

He shall lead you using those gentle reins of His love!

[7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear [revere] the LORD, and depart from evil.

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.

It is so true that basically all most of our people really know about their heavenly Father is what they have been taught (counseled) by men in their churches and their catechisms. Sure many of our people go to church because they have a zeal for God, but as Paul states "not according to knowledge" (of His Word). "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2)."

Isaiah says it this way.

Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear [reverence] toward me is taught by the precept of men:

However, it is really not that difficult at all if one will just take the time to study it to learn what it really says, but here is the problem:

Isaiah 29:11
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

So a person perhaps goes elsewhere, like to a fellow "layman" (as they are called).

[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

Of course you tried those guys with the degrees and that didn't work, which brings us back to Isa. 29:13 which we quoted earlier.

The point is that these are God's children and although they are blind and ignorant of His Word He still loves them very much, as any parent would his or her own, right? And any loving parent can relate to the fact that it "pains" greatly to have to punish your children! But chastise them He must, BECAUSE He loves them dearly and wants them to learn the error of their ways and return to Him.

That's right, as it is written, discipline and chastisement are part of His love:

Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

[7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

It was already written:

Proverbs 3:12
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

He expresses His heartfelt plea in the next verse:

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.

Admah and Zeboim (look up the meaning of their names in a Bible dictionary or your Strong's Concordance) were cities in the plain surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah which were wiped out along with Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:24-25 "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; [25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground."

You should know what 1 Cor. 10:11 says by now because we have quoted it numerous times in our study of Hosea. Anyway, Peter confirms what Paul said concerning the events of old being enacted as ensamples for us in these last days, in his statement about Sodom and Gomorrah: 2 Peter 2:6 "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." The Gibeans should have taken heed!

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.

Here is that restoration.

[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.

Zech. 8:7
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

[8] And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

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.