Hosea 11

Week 7, Monday: God’s grace to Israel
Hosea recalls the grace God showed to Israel from the beginning. Though His grace was redemptive and liberating, yet they scorned Him and turned to pagan no-gods.

Read Hosea 11

Meditate on Hosea 11.1-4
1.  Israel in Hosea’s day had forgotten the grace showed to their forebears while they were captive in Egypt. How do you suppose that happened? Is it important that we rehearse and remember the mighty works of God’s grace toward those who have gone before us in the faith? Explain.

2.  God says that He brought healing to His people, but they did not know it (v. 3). Is it possible that God brings many blessings to our lives each day that we either ignore or simply take for granted? Is this a good thing? Explain.

3.  The “cords” and “bands” of verse 4 are the same words used in Psalm 2.3 to describe the rebellion of the nations. The reference is probably to the Law of God. In what way does the Law serve as a “cord” or “band”? And why is it gentle cords and bands of love?  

4.  God had liberated His people from slavery and nourished them in the wilderness (v. 4). Yet they devoted themselves to idols (v. 2). What were they thinking?

5.  Do any aspects of God’s charge against Israel seem to apply to His Church today?

Summary
Like Israel, Jesus was called out of Egypt in order to fulfill the covenant promises of God (v. 1, cf. Matt. 2.13-15). Israel realized many blessings from the Lord, but it is apparent that she was focused on the blessings God offered, rather than God Himself. When they began to think they could acquire the same blessings in other places (v. 2), they didn’t hesitate to turn there. Full and true faith seeks the Lord, and not merely the blessings of the Lord.

Closing Prayer
But they sinned even more against Him
By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.
And they tested God in their heart
By asking for the food of their fancy.
Yes, they spoke against God:
They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Behold, He struck the rock,
So that the waters gushed out,
And the streams overflowed.
Can He give bread also?
Can He provide meat for His people?”
Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious;
So a fire was kindled against Jacob,
And anger also came up against Israel,
Because they did not believe in God,
And did not trust in His salvation.

Psalm 78.17-22

T. M. Moore

The Week, T. M.’s daily print and audio offering of worldview insights, musings, and reflections, is now available for a free subscription. You can subscribe to The Week  by going to www.ailbe.org, and, when the pop-up appears, put in your email, click on The Week, then click to update your subscriptions. You’ll be sent an email allowing you to add The Week to your list of subscriptions.

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For all available studies in Hosea, click here.

A primary theme of the book of Hosea is Israel’s failure to keep covenant with the Lord. God’s covenant is a central theme and provides the organizing motif for all of Scripture. Learn more about God’s covenant by ordering a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store (click here).

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.