HOSEA LESSON 11


     We will begin this lesson in Hosea 11:1 "When Israel [was] a
child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."

     Israel was known as the family of Jacob for their stay in Egypt.
They became known as the nation of Israel on their journey to the
promised land. God had seen them in their destitute condition, and He
had mercy upon them. God took them for His family, and brought them
out of Egypt. God redeemed them from heavy bondage in Egypt, and
declared them to be His son. God loved them above all other nations.

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

     It seemed, that even from the beginning, they would fall away and
worship false gods. God would forgive them, and start them again on
the right path. It seemed, they could not handle good times. Each time
they would fall away to worship other gods. It is a possibility that
they began practicing the worship of false gods in Egypt, and never
completely got rid of those bad habits. They were unfaithful from the
beginning.

     Hosea 11:3 "I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their
arms; but they knew not that I healed them."

     Ephraim had received the spiritual blessing of the right hand.
God had gone to extra trouble to teach Ephraim His ways. Part of the
reason for the 40 years of wandering, was to teach them His ways. God
healed their unfaithfulness over and over. God forgave them, and gave
them another chance. He tried to lead them and guide them, but they
did not learn their lesson well. God acted as a loving parent.

     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."

     These "cords of a man" mean that God had a hold on their
guidance.  God kept them close enough, that they could not completely
wander away. All of this control that God kept over them was done in
love. We see that even though God had controls on Ephraim, He still
lifted the yoke, so that it would not be too heavy to bear. Matthew
11:30 "For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light."  Notice, "I
laid meat unto them". He blessed them with plenty to eat. God provided
all their needs.

     Hosea 11:5  "He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the
Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return."

     We see that God has finally had enough of their unfaithfulness.
God has stopped protecting them. They will not go back into Egypt
where He found them, but their captivity will be even worse in
Assyria. They refused to repent and return to God, so God has given
them over to be punished.

     Hosea 11:6 "And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall
consume his branches, and devour [them], because of their own
counsels."

     This is speaking of the invasion that comes. This will be bloody.
All the cities will be joined in this battle. The sword will be in all
the cities. They had taken counsel from the world, instead of from
God.  The "consuming of the branches" would be all their young men
falling in battle.

     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]."

     They had been in right standing with God, and they of their own
free will, have turned away from God. They are like many people today
who walk with God for awhile, and the cares of this world cause them
to fall away. God had called them to a special relationship with Him.
They, of their own free will, refused to exalt Him as 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."

     The word "Admah" means earthy. "Zeboim" means gazelles. They were
like wild animals, who were difficult to tame. God obviously loved
Ephraim and Israel. He was like a loving parent that kept going back,
forgiving them. They deserve to be totally destroyed, but God cannot
bring Himself to do that. His heart is still upon them. God, even now,
repents of the terrible punishment He had planned for them. Instead of
total destruction, they are scattered. God never completely gives up
on them. In the time of Jesus, He reaches out to them again. John
11:54 "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went
thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called
Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples."

     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."

     God is not man, that He has to explain why He forgives someone.
God never pours out His wrath upon His own. He loves them and will
make a way out for them. He will not completely destroy Ephraim. He
will leave a door open in this situation. They will have opportunity
to accept Jesus as their Saviour, when God pours out His mercy on
mankind. God never stops loving, and that is why He sent His Son to
save whosoever will. John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life."

     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."

     The lion is a mighty powerful animal, that sounds fearful when it
roars. The fear of the LORD causes them to tremble. Ephraim will
return to the LORD, and walk in His ways. The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom.

     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."

     This is speaking of a time, when they will be eager to return to
their home, as a bird is eager to return to his nest. This speaks of a
time when they will return home, and receive their houses again.

     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."

     Even though God will restore them, He still speaks of their
unfaithfulness to Him. They are full of lies and deceit. Judah is the
tribe that the Lord Jesus comes from. He is the Lion of the tribe of
Judah. Jesus rules with God the Father. He rules all the world from
Jerusalem in the land of Judah.






























                          Hosea 11 Questions


1.  What does God call Israel in verse 1?
2.  While they were in Egypt, they were spoken of as the family of
    __________.
3.  What terrible things did they do in return?
4.  What, possibly, was the cause of their false worship?
5.  __________ had received the spiritual blessing of the right hand.
6.  What was part of the reason they wandered 40 years in the
    wilderness?
7.  God acted as a loving ________ toward them.
8.  What did "the cords of a man" indicate?
9.  Quote Matthew chapter 11 verse 30.
10. What does "I laid meat unto them" mean?
11. Who will rule over them?
12. They had taken counsel of the __________.
13. What was the "consuming of the branches"?
14. What is meant by "backsliding"?
15. What had they done of their own free will?
16. Quote Hosea chapter 11 verse 8?
17. What does the word "Admah" mean?
18. "Zeboim" means what?
19. In verse 8, what does God do that gives them a glimmer of hope?
20. Quote John chapter 11 verse 54?
21. Quote Hosea chapter 11 verse 9.
22. Does God have to explain why He forgives someone?
23. Quote John chapter 3 verse 16.
24. They shall walk after the LORD, he shall roar like a ________.
25. What happens to Ephraim?
26. They tremble as a ________ out of Egypt.
27. What does God speak of, again, in verse 12?