Hosea 11
Summary for Hos 11:1-11: 11:1-11 a God agonized over Israel’s unfaithfulness. Despite all he had done, Israel had become a rebel. Justice required severe punishment, but the final sentence for Israel would be determined by God’s tender compassion for his people, not by an abstract principle. 11:1 b my son: The Lord adopted Israel when he delivered him out of Egypt. This verse is quoted in reference to Jesus in Matt 2:15 c (see study note on Matt 4:1-11).11:2 d In spite of God’s love, Israel had become a rebellious child, offering sacrifices to . . . Baal. The penalty for a rebellious son was death (Deut 21:18-21 e).
Summary for Hos 11:3-4: 11:3-4 f God’s nurture of the infant Israel was marked by kindness and love.
Summary for Hos 11:5-7: 11:5-7 g Because the Israelites had refused to return to the Lord, they would return to Egypt and ... serve Assyria. Their past bondage in Egypt was a symbol for their coming exile in Assyria.
11:8 h Though justice demanded Israel’s death, the Lord recoiled at the thought of giving Israel up, of letting them go, of destroying his son.
• Admah and Zeboiim were cities near Sodom and Gomorrah that God totally destroyed (Deut 29:23 i).
• In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of the intellect and the will.
11:9 j No: The Lord alone would determine Israel’s fate. God repeated the words I will not three times, emphasizing his decision not to completely destroy his people.
• The reason for the divine decision is, I am the Holy One living among you. God’s holiness distinguishes him from every created thing (see thematic note for God’s Absolute Holiness at end of chapter). An offended mortal might very well destroy a rebel out of pique and spite. The Holy One does not operate out of those motives.
Summary for Hos 11:10-11: 11:10-11 k Israel’s sin would not have the final word; God, in his holy love, would roar like a lion (see Amos 1:2 l; 3:8 m) to call his people home from exile.
Summary for Hos 11:12-12:14: 11:12–12:14 n Israel had perpetrated lies and deceit since the time of Jacob.
Thematic note: God’s Absolute Holiness
Holiness is the fundamental descriptor of who God is. It is not merely one of his many attributes; it is the key to his very being. Calling God “the Holy One” speaks to the transcendence of his nature, in sharp contrast to the finite creation, whose creatures are bound by time and space. God speaks of himself as “I Am Who I Am” (Exod 3:14 o), defining himself by himself. God is the Wholly Other, the One who is completely self-sufficient and distinct from the created order.
God’s holiness also speaks of his character. It is common to describe God’s holiness in terms of his separation from sin and his wrath against it, but the notion of holiness embraces all of God’s character, including his mercy. God revealed himself to Moses as the “God of compassion and mercy.” He said, “I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” In his holiness, God shows this “unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty” (Exod 34:6-7 p).
God’s holiness can be deadly to uninvited intruders (Isa 6:3 q, 5 r; see Exod 28:35 s) or to those who treat it with contempt. His infinite holiness is too much for finite, fallen mortals and would utterly destroy them apart from God’s mercy. Understanding God’s holiness should thus trigger a response of awe and reverence. Anything less would be profane. Perhaps this was the error that cost Nadab and Abihu their lives (Lev 10:1-3 t). Only in recognizing the awesomeness of God can we appreciate his great love for us and worship him appropriately and authentically.
Passages for Further Study
Exod 3:14 u; 34:6-7 v; Lev 10:3 w; Lev 11:44-45 x; 1 Sam 2:1-2 y; Isa 6:3-5 z; 52:10 aa; Hos 11:9 ab
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