Hosea Chapter 11

"Israel's Ingratitude for God's Benefits."

This Bible Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and made available with written permission by http://www.theseason.org

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

This verse is in reference to an event that would happen six hundred years after Hosea's time. That event is recorded in Matthew 2:15. It was when King Herod was King of Judah, and the wise men came to him to find the Christ Child.

"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." [Matthew 2:15]

"That it might be fulfilled", is the prophecy of Hosea 11:1. This is God speaking to our generation, telling us it was at His direction Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt, and as recorded here, brought them out of Egypt also.

Hosea 11:2 "As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim

and burned incense to graven images."

This verse looses a lot in the translation from Hebrew to the English. It is talking about the prophets that God sent. God is saying; He called you through the prophets, but the more He called to you; the more you fled from Him. There is no difference today from the way it was then. In the days of the Ancient "House of Israel", our forefathers burned incense to idols. However, today we have many new forms of idolatry. The "one verse pastors" still use their incense, or other materials, rather then the Word of God.

The Word of God is still there, for nothing has changed in God's instructions to us. God is the same yesterday, as He is today; and He will be the same tomorrow. God loves His people.

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

God is saying, I gently led them, and they didn't even know it. God led them out of Egypt, and through the wilderness; then into the promise land. As they went, they stumbled and murmured all the way.

When God scattered them by the Assyrian's in 722 B.C., God led them to the most fruitful lands on earth, and they still refused to give God the glory. What Israel has [the Christian nations], is the direct blessings of God, promised to Israel as an inheritance from Abraham, and Isaac. We stand here in all our blessings, outlined in the Bible, and allow Satan's kid's, the Kenites, to tell us we are "Gentile", and he is the "chosen people". How totally ridiculous the idea seems, yet it is true.

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."

The ropes that God pulled them along with, and took them to their promised lands, even today, is the love God had for them. God says, He even loosed the straps on their yokes, to make their way easy. God says, I fed them, protected them, and led each of them to the place I wanted them to be. Remember, that rope and yoke is God's love.

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

The key to understanding this verse is found in Isaiah 14:25. This is where God is telling Israel that He is going to send them a king to reign over them in the latter days. The king that shall rule over this last generation is "Lucifer", the Antichrist.

God will do this because they would not listen to the warning of the prophets, that Antichrist would come before the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Christian world will get their king, but it is not who they are expecting. This is because they have been taught to accept the Antichrist by their false shepherds. They will gladly commit themselves to Satan, and He will teach them how to fly right into his arms. It is through their ignorance, and the Antichrist's miracles and wonders that will draw them.

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

This sword, or deception, will cover all their cities, and people [branches]; and devour [deceive] them because they were taught, or counseled to do so in their church houses. Instead of taking God's counsel from the Scriptures, they run to their man made theories, and doctrine for direction and comfort.

Hosea 11:7 "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: tough they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him."

Their minds are bent, or determined to run from God. They love chasing after false prophets, and all forms of idolatry. Though the true prophets show them the true way, they refuse to listen.

God's elect, the chosen, understand and take heed, yet none of the rest will leave their idolatrous forms for true counsel.

Hosea 11:8 "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together."

Try to understand God's emotions in this verse. He says, I fed you; I led you; I healed you; I gave you the very best, and even sent prophets, and you killed them. What can I do to make you see My love for you? Our Heavenly Father's heart hurts in compassion for His children.

"Admah", refers to an earthly fortress, and "Zeboim" is a "gazelle", a small and swift antelope. These words, "Admah and Zeboim" are descriptions of God's emotions.

It is interesting also that these were peoples called "Admah and Zeboim" , and the Bible gives them a close relationship to Sodom and Gomorrah. These people were into practicing Sodomy in their filthy life style. God is asking Israel, Am I going to have to destroy you like I did them?

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 saying, I should destroy Ephraim, which refers here to "the House of Israel" in the time of the latter days; but I won't. God reminds us that a man in anger would destroy them, but He is saying, "I don't think like a man thinks." God is Holy, and He keeps His word. God will not come against Israel [Christians] like He came against Sodom and Gomorrah.

Why? His love will not allow Him to.

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."

This is in reference to Zechariah 8:7, where it is the end of this earth age. It states there they will come from both the east and the west when God roars. Then on the first day of the millennium, every knee will bow to Jesus Christ as Lord. The question then is, when will this come to pass? God tells us this , through Hosea, in the rest of this book.

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 occurs at our Lord Jesus Christ's coming, and His children of the "House of Israel" are coming home: Back to God.

Remember back in Hosea 1:9, where God told Israel that they would be named "Lo- ammi", [for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.] In this verse God will again be calling all Israel back to Him.

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 [Holy One]."

In the original text, the Massorah points out Hosea 11:11 is the end of the 11th Chapter, and the 12 th verse is attached to Chapter 12. This is why this verse is disconnected with Chapter eleven.

What you are led to believe this verse twelve is saying, is not what the manuscript is saying. It is correct in the description of Israel being full of lies and deceit; however, the rest should read, "But, Judah yet wandereth without God, and is away from the faithfulness of God, and with the saints" [Quoting the manuscripts].

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