Hosea 11:1-12--The LORD's Love for Israel

Hosea 11
English Standard Version

The LORD's Love for Israel
11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more they were called,
    the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
    and burning offerings to idols.

3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
    I took them up by their arms,
    but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of kindness,
    with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
    and I bent down to them and fed them.

5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt,
    but Assyria shall be their king,
    because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword shall rage against their cities,
    consume the bars of their gates,
    and devour them because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me,
    and though they call out to the Most High,
    he shall not raise them up at all.

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
    How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
    my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my burning anger;
    I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
    the Holy One in your midst,
    and I will not come in wrath.

10 They shall go after the LORD;
    he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
    his children shall come trembling from the west;
11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
    and like doves from the land of Assyria,
    and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.
12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
    and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.

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Here is the exact passage the New Testament sites to say that Jesus would be called out of Egypt.  Israel was like a son to the LORD, but Jesus was the Son of God.  Jesus fulfilled the covenant where Israel broke the covenant.  Though the LORD continued to call out to his children through the prophets, they continued to rebel and worship false gods.

The LORD took care of the northern ten tribes (called Ephraim here, because that tribe was their leader), but they did not recognize the hand of the LORD in their birth, guidance, or protection.  Now they are willing to go back the way they came and return to slavery in Egypt if it would protect them from the Assyrians, but the LORD will not let them go back to Egypt.  He redeemed them from their slavery there and once they crossed the Red Sea they were never to go back to Egypt for refuge or protection again, because to do so would mean they would once again become enslaved.

Egypt is finally going to be judged more completely from what it did to Israel.  It's been a long time coming, but the LORD will use other nations to carry out His judgment against the enemies of His people.  Though Israel is bent on turning away from the LORD, He will not let them be completely destroyed.  He will preserve them because He continues to love them, even if they do not love Him in return.  They will be judged, but not destroyed.

One day, He will call them back from all the places they have scattered to and they will once again be one people gathered together in the Land, and the LORD will once again be their King.  In that day, Egypt and Assyria will be their allies, not their enemies.  They will all three worship the LORD together.