'Ho 11:1-11

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The Father’s love (Ho 11:1-11)

As a father loves a son, so God loved Israel and saved his people from slavery in Egypt. They turned from God to serve idols, but God still loved them and cared for them (Ho 11:1-4).

However, they have refused to return to God, and now they are about to go into slavery again, this time in Assyria (Ho 11:5-7).

It hurts God to have to punish those whom he loves. He must punish them for their wickedness, because he cannot ignore sin. But within his justice there is mercy. His love is stronger and more faithful than anything that is found in human relationships.

He will remove his people from their land, but he will not destroy them for ever as he did Sodom, Gomorrah and other cities (Ho 11:8-9; see Deut 29:23).

God will overpower the enemies of Israel, release his people from captivity and bring them back to their homeland (Ho 11:10-11).