Bible Question: I have been studying the Book of Hosea and I have run across something I was hoping you all could help me understand. So we know, that Hosea is mainy about Israel and their sin, God's judgment, showing his love for them, and calling them to repentence. Hosea 11: 9 says that God will not carry out his wrath. This is God speaking, but in Chapter 12:2 it says that God wil punish Jacob but this is not God speaking here. I do not believe the Bible contradicts itself so can someone help me understand what happened between chapter 11 and 12, didGod change his mind? Also, I have searched several translations to see what is meant when the Bible says Jacob in Hosea 12:2 and even that has varying translations. Thanks! |
Bible Answer: Hi Melody, Hosea 12.2 was fulfilled when God allowed the Assyrians to smite Israel and spread them among the nations. Hosea 11.9, however, refers to God's restoration of Israel which took place through the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ as Matthew makes clear (Matt 2.15). The point of Hosea 11 is that although 'God had called His son (Israel) out of Egypt' (11.1), Israel had remained there in his heart. Thus subsequently he weent back to both Egypt and Assyria. He went back to idolatry. Verse 4 should be translated as a question. 'Shall he not return unto Egypt? Shall not Assyria be his king because he refused to turn (to the Lord)? Therefore God determined that one day He would deliver Israel fully by removing Egypt from their hearts. 'They shall come trembling out of Egypt like a bird, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria' (11.11). That process began when God sent His Son into exile in Egypt, and then called Him out of Egypt (Matt 2.15). He not only left Egypt but unlike Israel previously He left Egypt totally behind. And He founded the true Israel (John 15.1-6) which was also freed from Egypt in its heart. The New Testament is crystal clear on the fact that Jesus founded a true Israel (Matt 21.43), founded on the Apostles (Matt 16.18), which grew into what we would call the true church made up of all true believers in Israel's Messiah (Rom 11.16-24; Eph 2.11-22; 1 Pet 2.9; etc). This is in fact the only explanation which justifies Matthew in seeing 2.15 as a fulfilled prophecy based on Hos 11.1. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Hosea | Author | ||
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melody4u | ||
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EJJ | ||
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melody4u | ||
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biblicalman |