Israel Refused to Return to Me

God's Prophets Demand Justice
Amos Rails against Injustice

Judgment on Israel and Judah


God Will Never Forget

Hosea 11:1-9  The Message

Israel Played at Religion with Toy Gods

11 ^1-9 “When Israel was only a child, I loved him.
    I called out, ‘My son!’—called him out of Egypt.
But when others called him,
    he ran off and left me.
He worshiped the popular sex gods,
    he played at religion with toy gods.
Still, I stuck with him. I led Ephraim.
    I rescued him from human bondage,
But he never acknowledged my help,
    never admitted that I was the one pulling his wagon,
That I lifted him, like a baby, to my cheek,
    that I bent down to feed him.
Now he wants to go back to Egypt or go over to Assyria—
    anything but return to me!
That’s why his cities are unsafe—the murder rate skyrockets
    and every plan to improve things falls to pieces.
My people are hell-bent on leaving me.
    They pray to god Baal for help.
    He doesn’t lift a finger to help them.
But how can I give up on you, Ephraim?
    How can I turn you loose, Israel?
How can I leave you to be ruined like Admah,
    devastated like luckless Zeboim?
I can’t bear to even think such thoughts.
    My insides churn in protest.
And so I’m not going to act on my anger.
    I’m not going to destroy Ephraim.
And why? Because I am God and not a human.
    I’m The Holy One and I’m here—in your very midst.

For Reflection 

God asks, "[Israel]  How can I leave you to be ruined..."  The Father's "insides churn in protest" to the idea of abandoning God's child, Israel.  In spite of Israel's rejection and disobedience God loves his creation. God declares that God will never abandon his children.  God will abide in their midst.

Pray

that you will always remember to whom you belong.  Pray that your every breath will glorify your creator.  Pray that you will see the world through God's eyes, know God's compassion, practice God's forgiveness, and work for God's justice.