My parents and their treatment of me and my siblings when we messed up came to mind as I read Hosea 11. I can remember my parents being angry, frustrated and disappointed by things us kids did and they would let us know that. Yet at the same time, and even in the middle of discipline, my parents made it clear how much they loved and cared for us and that nothing we did would change that. That's exactly what I see here in Hosea 11. We see God's anger, His frustration, and then we hit this:
- "My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. 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." (Hosea 11:8-9)
These words touched me. To think that God's heart recoils within Him concerning us. I'm so thankful that He is God and not a man and that He loves us in spite of us. Have you thought about that lately? Have you talked to God about that lately? Tami W.
In reading Hosea, I became confused with the people groups.
Who is "Israel" and who is "Ephraim"? Are they different people? I know Judah and Israel were divided after Soloman's reign. Maybe I need to get out a commentary!
Martha,
I'd like to respond to your question.
Ephraim was one of the two sons of Joseph (who himself was a son of Jacob). The descendants of Ephraim became one of the 12 tribes of Israel. When the nation of Israel split under Solomon's son Rehoboam, the northern 10 tribes, led by Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, set up Samaria in Ephraim as its new capital. Bethel, also part of Ephraim, became a center for idol worship under Jeroboam.
Consequently, Ephraim became a symbol for all that was bad in the northern kingdom (rebellion, idolatry, etc.). Ephraim, Israel, Samaria were all names used by different prophets to refer to the northern kingdom and/or its sins.
Allen (Biblical Correspondent at Back to the Bible)