21st December 2025 - "The Lord's Love for Israel" - Hosea 11:1-11

Hosea 11:1-11 English Standard Version The Lord's Love for Israel 11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,     and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more they were called,     the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals     and burning offerings to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;     I took them up by their arms,     but they did not know that I healed them. 4 I led them with cords of kindness,[a]     with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,     and I bent down to them and fed them. 5 They shall not[b] return to the land of Egypt,     but Assyria shall be their king,     because they have refused to return to me. 6 The sword shall rage against their cities,     consume the bars of their gates,     and devour them because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on turning away from me,     and though they call out to the Most High,     he shall not raise them up at all. 8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?     How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah?     How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me;     my compassion grows warm and tender. 9 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.[c] 10 They shall go after the Lord;     he will roar like a lion; when he roars,     his children shall come trembling from the west; 11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,     and like doves from the land of Assyria,     and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord. Footnotes Hosea 11:4 Or humaneness; Hebrew man Hosea 11:5 Or surely Hosea 11:9 Or into the city