Hosea 11:1-4

God's early love for Israel.

The mind, pained by ingratitude, naturally reverts to the kindnesses formerly showered on the unworthy recipient. God hero reminds Israel of his early love to the nation—how he had adopted it as his son, called it out of Egypt, taught it to go alone, drawn it with love, and bountifully provided for it. No sin is so odious as filial ingratitude ( Isaiah 1:3 ). None is so grievous to the heart of a parent. It is this sin which God here charges on Israel.

I. THE CHILDHOOD OF ISRAEL . "When Israel was a child, then I loved him" ( Hosea 11:1 ).

1. Israel had a childhood . Every nation has. There is a time when, in the natural development of society, the patriarchal stage passes over into the political. This time came to Israel in Egypt. The patriarchal family had grown into a horde. It had lost its domestic character, yet it had no polity. It might never have had one had the people remained in bondage. God gave them freedom, and with it nationality. Thus the nation was created.

2. The individual has a childhood . He is cast on God's care from the womb ( Psalms 22:9 , Psalms 22:10 ). One can sometimes almost trace a special providence in the care of children. Those who can look back on special mercies in childhood and early life are in the position of Israel here.

3. The spiritual life has a childhood . It has its feeble beginnings. There are those who are but "babes in Christ" ( 1 Corinthians 3:1 ). They are as "new-born babes," needing "the sincere milk of the Word," that they may "grow thereby" ( 1 Peter 2:2 ). God is tenderly careful of such, considerate of their weakness and. watchful in their nurture.

II. GOD 'S LOVE TO ISRAEL IN HIS CHILDHOOD . "I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt," etc. ( Hosea 11:1 , Hosea 11:3 , Hosea 11:4 :). God's love to Israel was shown:

1. In his adoption . He chose the nation, and called it "My son, my firstborn" ( Exodus 4:22 ). "Israel was a type of Christ, and for the sake of him who was to be born of the seed of Israel did God call Israel 'My Son.'" In Christ the honor is extended to each individual believer ( 1 John 3:1 ). The relation expressed is one of peculiar endearment and of pre-eminent privilege. It is connected, in the case of believers, with the impartation of a new principle of life in regeneration ( 1 John 3:9 ). The children of believers are "holy" ( 1 Corinthians 7:14 ). God claims them in baptism as his children. The name "sons of God" shall be restored to Israel on their conversion ( Hosea 1:10 ).

2. In calling him out of Egypt . Freedom is an attribute of God's children ( Romans 8:21 ). When God made Israel his son he bound himself to deliver him. He gives freedom to all his spiritual children. The call to leave Egypt was, moreover, a proof of God's faithfulness and love, in view of the promises made to the fathers. It bore also a prophetic character ( Matthew 1:15 ). Egypt having, by express Divine selection, been chosen a second time as a place of refuge for God's Son—for him of whom Israel, God's firstborn, was but a type—the former call became prophetically a pledge that in this case also the Father's summons would in due time arrive. Arrive, accordingly, it did. The word, "Out of Egypt have I called my son," found a new and higher fulfillment. On the Divine side, the fulfillment was neither unforeseen nor undesigned.

3. In training him to go alone . "I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by the arms." God gave the nation freedom. He further taught it to use its freedom. Freedom, without power to use it, is a sorry gift. In the training of Israel we observe:

4. In drawing the people with love . "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love." The people needed to be drawn. They were often recalcitrant and ill to manage. God emphasizes here:

5. In bountifully providing for them . "I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them." God provided for Israel all that was necessary for their sustenance, and not only thus supplied their creature wants, but was kind in his manner of doing, it. He was also the Healer of their diseases ( Exodus 15:26 )

III. ISRAEL 'S REQUITAL OF THIS LOVE . ( Hosea 11:2 , Hosea 11:3 ) Israel had made God a shameful return for all his goodness to them. They:

1. Refused obedience . "As they [the prophets] called them, so they went from them." They flatly turned their back on duty. They went further in sin the more they were warned.

2. Dishonored God in the very article of his Godhead . "They sacrificed to Baalim, and burned incense to graven images," thus breaking the first and second commandments.

3. Renounced God as a Healer . "They knew not that I healed them" (cf. Hosea 5:13 ).—J.O.