#DailyDevotion Which Of God’s Sons Will You Be?
Hos. 11“When Israel was a boy, I loved him and I called My son out of Egypt.
The LORD is referring to this account from Ex. 4:22, 23, “The LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son. 23I tell you: Let My son go and serve Me. If you refuse to let him go, I’ll kill your firstborn son.’” And so He called His son Israel out of Egypt when He sacrificed the firstborn of those not protected by the blood of the lamb over the doors. He baptized Israel as they walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. He had great affection for Israel. But as we shall see, Israel did not fulfill their calling.
The LORD then fulfilled Israel’s calling through Jesus Christ in Matt. 2:14, 15, “14Joseph got up at night, took the little Child and His mother, and went to Egypt. 15He stayed there until Herod died. In this way what the Lord said through the prophet was to come true: ‘I called My Son from Egypt.’” Jesus would fulfill, particularly in the Gospel of Matthew, the role of Israel as they went into the wilderness, crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. Where Israel failed in its calling, Jesus, the New Israel, would be successful in His calling.
2But the more they were called, the further they went away; they sacrificed to the Baals and offered to idols. 3Yet I was the One Who taught Ephraim to walk, taking him in My arms. But they didn’t know I healed them. 4I led them with cords of humane treatment, with ropes of love, and I would be to them like one who lifts the yoke to free their jaws, and then bend down to feed them.
The LORD, despite Israel’s follies and forays into idolatry and worshiping other gods (two distinct things here, the charge of idolatry being aimed at the golden calves in Dan and Bethel), He called to them to return through the prophets. The more God called the further away they ran to the Baals and worshiped them as they should have the LORD. It was the LORD who had blessed their families, the crops and the cattle. Instead they gave credit to the false gods. It was the LORD who led them with the Torah, i.e. cords of humane treatment and ropes of love. It was He who would feed them and treat them so well. But like a girl who runs away from the nice guy into the hands of the bad boy, Israel rejected the LORD for the Baals.
5They will not return to Egypt, but the Assyrian will rule them because they have refused to come back to Me. 6The sword will whirl in their cities, destroy the bars on their gates, and consume them because of their plans. 7My people are hopelessly determined to desert Me. Even though they call to the Most High, He will not lift them up.
The Israelites thought they could go to the Egyptians for help against the Assyrians. The LORD would prevent that from happening. It was one more instance of them not trusting in the LORD. No, the LORD would place the Assyrians over the Israelites to rule them. He would use the sword of the Assyrians to destroy them and their cities. It would seem the hearts of the Israelites were set on abandoning the LORD. Should they call upon Him as the Most High, He will not listen to them because they do not call upon that name in faith.
When we call upon the LORD, do we call Him in faith or just in case? Trust in the LORD!
Gracious God and Father, You have called us Your children through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Keep us in this faith so we do not abandon You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.