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Hosea. 11:1-11 God’s Redeeming Love. Review. An outline of Hosea 1-3 – Illustrating God’s relationship to Israel 4-7 – God is holy – Israel indicted for sins 8-10 – God is just – Israel’s punishment 11-14 – God is love – The restoration This final section is the climax
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Hosea 11:1-11 God’s Redeeming Love
Review • An outline of Hosea • 1-3 – Illustrating God’s relationship to Israel • 4-7 – God is holy – Israel indicted for sins • 8-10 – God is just – Israel’s punishment • 11-14 – God is love – The restoration • This final section is the climax • “Hosea” means “salvation” and here is where God offers salvation • Had been illustrated in chapter 3 with Hosea taking Gomer back • Now we begin to hear about salvation
God’s Love • Hos 11:1 • At first glance • A historical reference to Israel leaving Egypt • But nation usually referred to as female • Beginning in verse 2, Israel is referred to by plural pronouns (some exceptions later in the chapter) • So is the “him” and “my son” referring only to Israel? • Matt 2:14-15 • Hosea 1:1 was a prophecy about Jesus • Putting it together in Hosea 11:1 • When Israel was just beginning • God already loved Jesus and had a plan for Him
God’s Plan • Eph 1:4-14 • A plan from before the creation • A plan to save through His Son and in Him • A plan that required faith and obedience • A plan that made it clear salvation was a gift from God • A plan that had been kept a “mystery” until it was carried out • 1 Cor 2:6-9 • The plan was hidden before the cross • After the cross it was revealed and the prophecies made clear as proof of God’s plan and wisdom
God’s Love • Hos 11:2-4 • From the beginning Israel followed other gods • Yet God was always the one who helped Israel • Let them walk • Made them into a kingdom • Healed their wounds • Destroyed their enemies • Guided them forward • Enlarged their borders, made them powerful • Took away their yoke and fed them • Kept them from being conquered while they grew • And they didn’t acknowledge God’s efforts
God’s gifts • Do we do any better than Israel? • James 1:17 • All gifts have come from God • How much in our lives do we take for granted? • Food, health, family, houses, jobs, friends • Often we get angry at God when these are taken away, but were we grateful for them when we had them? • Or do we have an attitude like Job? • Job 1:20-22 • Thankful for what God provided • Not angry when the gifts no longer provided
Israel’s stubbornness • Hos 11:5-7 • Despite God’s love seen in His plans and gifts • They refused to repent (v5) • They were bent on backsliding (v7) • Nobody truly exalted God (v7) • So God would punish them, but with Assyria rather than Egypt • But they had brought the punishment on themselves
God’s redeeming love • Hos 11:8-11 • Despite their sins, God didn’t want to destroy them • Here we have the crossroads where God’s holiness and justice meet God’s love and mercy • A man might have to give up something • But God is not a man to be thwarted, even by man’s own sinfulness and stubbornness • The answer was God’s plan to call all men to Him through His Son (“He will roar like a lion”) • “They will walk after the Lord”
A plan for all • We can see the fulfillment of the plan • Where holiness and justice meet love and mercy • Rom 5:6-11 • At the cross • Rom 3:21-26 • For all people • Rom 6:1-7 • By repentance, baptism, and obedience in a new life
Conclusion • God has always had a plan to save man • He demonstrated His love for Israel like a husband for a wife, or a father for a child • Despite Israel’s rejection of Him, He still had a plan that would offer them salvation along with all other people • It is that plan that is still offered today • He has roared like a lion • Won’t you walk after the Lord?