Hosea 11:1-4

Tonight I direct your attention once again to the book of Hosea, this time chapter 11. I’m going to be reading verse 1, 3 and 4 for our text tonight. Josea chapter 11, 1, 3, and 4. When Israel was a child, then I loved him and called my son out of Egypt. Verse 3. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms. They knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love, and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat under them. May God bless to us, you sacreded. Holy Word this evening. In our text, God is reminding Israel of how he has cared for them as a loving father from youth to manhood. The cradle of this most remarkable people, of course, was Egypt. And God brought them out of the land of slavery there. their youth was spent in the wilderness. That’s where Israel learned to walk. And when they faltered, God carried them in his arms. In the land of Canaan, Israel became a young man whose pride was in his strength. With God’s help, he drove out to Canaanites. In Joseus Day, this youth, had now become an adult. But Israel has forgotten what his father has done for him. Israel has turned to other gods. The nation didn’t appreciate the parental care that it had received from God while growing up. As a believer tonight, I wish to remind you what God has done for you. To call your attention, once again to God’s parental care. And I hope that it will make you appreciate God’s goodness, God’s grace, and I hope it will lead you to praise him. Now, we have to note something as we go through this book, and you’ll notice it in other books as well. In Scripture, there are two Israel’s. Is Israel after the flesh? And there is, of course, Israel the Israel of God, the true Israel. As we read in Psalm 731, truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. So in certain passages, when it talks about Israel, it talks about elect Israel. Israel my an elect. And so this is what we’re looking at tonight in this passage is the scripture. Those who have a clean heart, and we’re not looking at all of Israel after the flesh, because the Israel after the flesh was not following God. So he mentions here the ones who are. Let’s consider God’s grace to you as one of His people. We see his electing love here in verse 1. I loved him, the scripture says. In 1984, the newspapers captured the plight of a Mexican city child. The four-year-old had been orphaned, severely burned by a gas explosion, which took the lives of 500 people. And millions saw the story, probably quickly forgot about it. But one woman in New York City was deeply moved by the face staring out of the newspaper photograph. She fell in love with the little boy, and her concern led to efforts to find him, followed by two years of gifts, medical existence, and finally adoption proceedings. And then he faced a long, hard road of reconstructive surgery. but now he had someone who loved him, someone who cared so much that she gave herself to him. In a similar manner, this is what God has done for you and I. This chapter opens with God’s ancient, sovereign, electing love. Even though the Israelite nation was in a very poor situation, slavery, God set his love upon it. They were not chosen for their numbers, or the greatness of the nation, where they were little and despised. As Dynronomy 7 tells us, the Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you because you were more in number than any of people, for you were the fewest of people. But because of the fewest of people, but because of the the Lord loved you because he would keep the oath which he had sworn under your fathers, have God brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage from the hand of Pharaoh, king of each. What claim did Israel have upon God? None? None at all. She was not more numerous and therefore was not more useful to God. and she was not more moral. So the explanation of God’s electing love is to be found in God himself alone. He loves simply because he chooses to do so. Spiritually as a believer, you and I were in the same favored condition. But there is nothing in us that would move up. us, a move to God to love us and to choose us. Before we had done good or evil, God had already chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Your heart can rejoice this day with the memory of the great love that God has shown toward you, even when you were dead and trespasses and sins. as the Ephesians 2 tells us. And it’s in electing love of God, which is the spring, in which all the other blessings of God come, Ephesians chapter 1 talks about us being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and then he goes on to explain all the benefits that come from that electing love. So God’s electing love should be precious. you were chosen simply because he desired to do so and he made you special in his sight. And then he talks about their sonship. My son, he mentions in verse 1. The idea of God being a father to his people was not common, but it was always been true. Adam was called the son of God. And we know also that the line of Seth was called the sons of God. And we know also that Israel were called the children of God. Jesus habitually addressed God as my father, which made a great impression on the minds of the people. Toward the end of his earthly ministry, Christ encouraged his disciples to do that. do the same. Go to my brothers and tell them I am returning to my God and to your God, he said, John 2017. When he taught them how to pray, what did he tell them? We’re supposed to pray our father, which art in heaven. Our father. Adoption and sonship followed closely upon the heels of your election. And it is certainly a son’s son’ship followed closely. And it is certainly a sign of good things, as Ephesians 1.5 says, having predestinated us under the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. We’re chosen, were adopted, were made sons, and so forth. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God, 1. John 3.1. Sonship with God is an unbelievable title and privilege, and yet it’s reserved for such poor creatures of dust as you and I. Let us be clear that not every human being has this title. It is wrong to think of everyone as a child of God. That’s not biblical. For some are the sons of Satan. But God does act as a father for his chosen people. And so we see that emphasized in Scripture. Under which of the angels, he had said he at any time, thou art my son. But this, he has saved a people, and they are called his sons. So what can we say about this? Should we not be swallowed up with the door, and grab? gratitude to the Lord God that he has made us his sons and accepted us in the beloved. You’re one of the most favored creatures that he has made. Boundless blessings are reserved for you and I as his chosen people. We’re a child of the Lord God of hosts. And if a son, then an heir of God, and a joint air, with Jesus Christ, the Bible says. All things are yours in Christ. You’ve got an infinite future that awaits you, special privileges are now yours. Sonship is a real blessing that God has given us. Calling and salvation. I called my son out of Egypt, verse 1. Now, the Lord didn’t leave his people always in bondage in Egypt. He freed them. There was a stunning exodus. There was redemption by blood as they sacrificed the Passover. And this provides a picture of your calling out of slavery to sin and Satan. Those whom God has chosen, he saves from spiritual bondage. Satan is a tyrant, and sinners are his slaves. But sinners don’t know it, they don’t believe it, they don’t really see their real condition. You may in fact believe that you are enjoying a glorious freedom when you think you’re your own master. Making, you know, bricks and gathering straw in Egypt is nothing compared to slaves. slavery of Satan. From this, the children of God are delivered. All of God’s sons and daughters are called out of Egypt. If we understand Egypt as the world, we’ve been chosen out of the world, Christ tells us. We don’t feel at home in this world any longer. We never want to go back to that. We have nightmares. about that place, bad memories, sad remorse. But God reaches forth his arm. He makes you willing in the day of his power and calls you to himself. By his effectual grace, God calls you, separates you to himself. He sends a persuasive, convincing, conquering call. You remember the call. of Joseph when he invited his father, his aging father, to come and see him in Egypt and live during the very severe famine that was taking play. It is accomplished by him sending wagons or really royal chariots to his son or to his father. The old man could rise. So it was not only an entreating call, it was an enabling call. And thus it is with you and I as God’s people. Jesus said, all that the father giveth me shall come to me. In John 6, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me, John 10. I read a story about Jacob to Shazard. When I was in high school, I remember there was a book on Doolittle’s Raiders, and I don’t remember how many planes had taken off in bomb Japan. But I remember each chapter was like a new plane. They told you the history of it and what happened. Well, the Shazer here was a volunteer gunner on one of these B-25 Mitchell, twin-engine planes. of Doolittle’s Raiders that bombed Japan in April of 1942, very early in the war. They were specially trained so they could take off of an aircraft carrier, which these planes never did. So this was very unusual. They took a full bomb load and with lots of gas or fuel to get all the way across the Japanese. This plane dropped its bombs, but it had difficulty and crashed. Jacob de Chazer parachuted into Japanese held territory in China, where he was held captive for 40 horrible months and in very grimymy, dirty prison. He was brutalized, deprived of food and medical attention, terrified in every possible way, tortured. When the war was turned against the Japanese, the prison guards became a little more sympathetic, and they decided to provide books for the prisoners. The Shazer was given a Bible, with nothing. else to do at this time, he read it completely through. And as he read and reread and memorized, he experienced a profound change in his life. Christ called him to salvation right there in the prison camp. He found both his thinking and his behavior altered by God. He no longer hated the Japanese. which he once did. In fact, after the war, he would become a missionary in Japan and bring the gospel of Christ to them. God in strange ways brings his people to salvation. Some people, you know, through times of suffering and hardship, have their heart prepared for the gospel of Christ. It’s been the case with issues. Israel and the case of many of God’s people calling in salvation. We see he provides spiritual guidance for you. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms. Verse 3. Now, little children have to be taught how to walk. If you were ever raised in a house or lived in a house with a baby, you know, have tottering footsteps and you must instruct them, but one foot in front of the other. And what happens is you hold their hand and help them along. And finally, they can walk on their own. Anyone who has ever lived in a house with a baby can easily visualize this. God says this is how it was with Israel. When he brought them out of Egypt, they could hardly take a step. So he had, he had. had to take them by the hand. He had to carry them. He had to teach them his laws and his principles. He had to tell them, teach them how to walk spiritually. This is exactly what God does for you and I. How did you learn to walk as a Christian? God taught you by his spirit, did he not? For all who are children of God are led by the spirit of God. All who are, are sons. Led by the Spirit of God. So you were a mere babe in Christ, but God taught you to walk, not be weary, and even to run, and not be faint. God provided you with his laws to guide your steps. By word is the lamp under my feet, and the light under my path, he says. Kept your feet from sliding, and you from falling into sin. His hand was upon you and your hour of temptation and trial so that you were preserved. He gave you his commandments for direction. He told you this is the way. Walk in it and taking heed under God’s word, you didn’t stumble. So he provided you with spiritual guidance. He also provided you with healing, as verse 3 says. I healed them. We find that God was a physician as well to Israel. He provided for their well-being in their sicknesses, in their infirmities. Israel, as God’s children are likely to do, as children are likely to do, they strayed away from the Lord and often fell down and injured themselves. God let other. nations wound them as a chastisement. But he had healed them. He always banished their wounds. He always helped them along the way. Doesn’t he do the same for us? Even though he chastens us, even though sometimes he wounds us, he always bandages us up. He always takes care of us as the great physician in Jesus Christ. spiritual disease for each day of the week and he’s healed us of them all. How often you run off as a little child you’ve gotten yourself into trouble, you’ve fallen into sin, bruised and cut, you returned to God. Hasn’t he always forgiven your iniquity? Hasn’t he always healed your diseases? The spiritual God also helps our infirmities. God paid the expense. God paid the expensive medical bill for your healing. For by Christ stripes, ye are healed. Isaiah 53 says. Healing. And then fellowship, verse 4. God says, I drew you to myself in a gentle, kind way. I was friendly you. I loved you as a father. I removed the yoke of Egypt from you. so that you would be my people. I drew you out in the wilderness, so I brought you to Canaan, by bestowing favors upon you, making precious promises to you, God says. You were my people. And I was to be your God. Isn’t this the same thing that God does for you and I today as his people? purpose in calling you is that you might be unto him a special people, the Lord’s nation, Titus 214, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good work. Listen to what Peter says in 1 Peter 2.9. For you are a chosen generation. A holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who have called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You’re the holy nation that God has brought into the light of salvation. God’s favors and promises you and draws you close to himself. He desires fellowship with you. Finally, we read that he provides spiritual nourishment. I laid meat unto them. Verse 4. Now you can see here is a God as a parent providing help for his people. He’s leaning over the night, the high chair and shoveling baby, Gerber baby food into the mouth of his child, so to speak. Israel had not learned to eat yet. I nourished you, God said. I provided food for your hungry stomach. Remember how God provided man from heaven for 40 years to feed his people. He provided meat for them when they cried out for it. He gave them a land flowing with milk and honey, and they had no lack. Once God has removed your yoke of spiritual bondage, did he not feed you with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Did you not enjoy the bread of life, which comes down from heaven? The doctors and promises of His word are substantial need for your soul. soul that seeks after righteousness and he provides it for him. My soul shall be be satisfied with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. Psalm 63.5. Not only did God provide you with the milk of the word, but he also provided you with the meat, the strong doctrine, doctrine of truth. God has provided you with everything that’s necessary for life and godliness. The preaching of God’s word is a rich banquet to those who are spiritually hungry. God feeds his people with abundance. And so consider God’s grace to you as His people tonight from this text to Scripture. And then let me mention this secondly. God’s revelation as to how His Son would say, now this verse of scripture we’re going to be looking at this is quoted in the New Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ Christ Christ and his people are one we are chosen in Christ Christ. What happens to him happens to us and vice versa and so this is important when we look at these things Why do God’s people receive all these benefits? Well, turn with me to the book of Matthew, if you would. Chapter 2, verses 13 to 15. Matthew 2, verses 13 to 15. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. God bless this word to us. Why did God love Israel as a child? Why did God pamper him? Why was this nation of slaves that out of Egypt, like a procession of princes? Was Israel more lovable? Was it a winning child to the same? Not at all. As a child, Ephraim was already obstinate and rebellious. We’ve heard all that. God loved this child because of the child, because of the Lord Jesus Christ. God considered the face of his anointed and not the sins of Israel. Actually, Christ was already in Israel. while the nation was in Egypt. Christ was in the loins of Israel. In Hebrews, chapter 7, there’s an interesting passage there, where we read that the Levites paid ties through Abraham to Melchized the high priest. And they did so because they were in the loins of Abraham when he gave his tithe to Melchizedek, to Melchizedek, and in a similar way here we find that the reason why Israel is preserved is because Christ is in the loins of Israel. Each attack upon this nation was attacked upon Christ within the nation, within the loins of the people. Could God let his holy child Jesus drown in an Anni? No. Isn’t that what Satan had in mind? Satan was all along trying to kill the Christ child to destroy the nation which would produce this child. Satan didn’t care about the Jewish people as such. They couldn’t do them any harm, but he was afraid of that unborn child, Jesus. That’s the one he hoped to smother at birth in the water, but he didn’t succeed for God was watching over his child. The Exodus took place for the sake of Christ, still contained in the loins of his fathers, which had to get out of Egypt. So let it be known that you are saved from sin because of your association with Jesus Christ. Union with Christ is what ultimately spares your soul. Union with Christ is the reason God’s richest blessings fall upon you. Why do God’s people receive these benefits? Well, they receive them because of Christ. So Scripture is fulfilled by Jesus Christ as we see here in Matthew 2. Don’t assume that Christ was first called out of Egypt when he returned from there to his own country as a babe in the arms of Joseph and Mary. Long before his birth, he was already called out of Egypt, accompanied with the bones of the other Joseph. When Matthew wrote his gospel, he applied this text from Hosea to Jesus Christ. According to Matthew, the same. son called out of Egypt was really Christ in God’s people in Him. It was because of this son that God accepted Israel as a son and prepared a glorious exodus for him. The redemption of all God’s people could only become a fact when Christ had come to earth and suffered in our place. The Christ exodus from Egypt was only the beginning of his vicarious suffering. It was not glorification but it was humiliation. Yet this exodus took place to make the exodus of God’s people possible from spiritual Egypt. That beautiful exodus of your soul over the bondage of sin and Satan is only because of Christ’s exodus. Every day should mean a new triumphant exodus in which you leave the evil lust of the flesh farther behind you and you follow closely, entering the heavenly Canaan eventually. So God here tonight calls you and I to think back. Look what all God did for you. How he treated you as a parent and you as his child, he’s many years. Ponder his electing love, his adoption, his calling, his guidance, his healing, his fellowship, his nourishment. Hasn’t he been a good parent? Hasn’t he cared for you from your very infancy? Would you do something to disgrace such a good God? Will you know, turn your back upon him? Will you disregard his commandments? How could you do that? How could you be that unfeeling? Hopefully, this recital of God’s grace to your soul will fill your heart with praise. Do you see how much you and I owe God and how he’s taken care of us? We are the true Israel of God. We are the elect people. the holy nation that’s spoken off here. We ask, we see these things all laid out for us. And I ask tonight that you would ponder them carefully. Let us pray. Father, we pray that you bless us as your people. We pray, Lord, that we may be encouraged with this positive message tonight. And I pray, Lord, that you would watch over your people and bless us in all things. And I ask tonight that you would be pleased not to help us to walk worthy of the calling you’ve given us. Let us stand for the benedicture. Grace be with all of them that love our Lord Jesus Christ and sincerity. Amen.