1“When Israel was a child, then I loved him,
and called my son out of Egypt.
2They called to them, so they went from them.
They sacrificed to the Baals,
and burned incense to engraved images.
3Yet I taught Ephraim to walk.
I took them by their arms,
but they didn’t know that I healed them.
4I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love;
and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks;
and I bent down to him and I fed him.
5“They won’t return into the land of Egypt;
but the Assyrian will be their king,
because they refused to repent.
6The sword will fall on their cities,
and will destroy the bars of their gates,
and will put an end to their plans.
7My people are determined to turn from me.
Though they call to the Most High,
he certainly won’t exalt them.
8“How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned within me,
my compassion is aroused.
9I will not execute the fierceness of my anger.
I will not return to destroy Ephraim,
for I am God, and not man—the Holy One among you.
I will not come in wrath.
10They will walk after Yahweh,
who will roar like a lion;
for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
11They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt,
and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;
and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.
12Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,
and the house of Israel with deceit.
Judah still strays from God,
and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
V 1-4 A father’s heart is poured out in chapter 11. Have they forgotten that it was me that raised them and taught them to walk? I lead them with love, fed and clothed them, yet they do not want me anymore. They have strayed far from the way they were raised and have made it very clear I am no longer wanted or welcomed in their lives.
V 5-7 I will have to let them go if they do not want me, I have told them they will never be slaves in Egypt again but I know that Assyria is rising up in the North. Assyria’s plan will be to scatter them to the four corners of the earth, trying to rob them off their identity. But, I will not forget them I am their father, but they have made it plain they do not want me and I have no choice but to let them go. It’s breaking my heart
V8-9 Even now despite their sin against me my sympathy and love rise up. How can I let them go, how can I give them up? Even though I know that they need to be punished I will not let them be completely destroyed. This situation requires justice for their own good, but it churns my heart. I will be JUST as I promised I would be, but I am father and God, I am not like men, my angry does not overwhelm me and I didn’t make this decision lightly or on a whim. Defeat but not destruction is the answer for my children.
V10 -12 They will learn their lesson and I will be waiting and ready. I will pour out my mercy on them. There will be no mistake as I call them home for I will roar like a lion and they will hear my call. They will return from the four corner of the earth and I will renew and restore them. My children that I taught to walk will follow after me again and our family will once again be restored.