Hosea - 11

²  But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. They sacrificed to the Baal idols and burned incense to images. ³  Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them. ⁴  I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them. ⁵  They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent! ⁶  A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses. ⁷  My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!

⁸  The Divine Dilemma: Judgment or Mercy? How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused! ⁹  I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man– the Holy One among you– I will not come in wrath! ¹⁰  God Will Restore the Exiles to Israel He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the LORD; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. ¹¹  They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes,” declares the LORD. ¹²  God’s Lawsuit against Israel: Breach of Covenant(12:1) Ephraim has surrounded me with lies; the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit. But Judah still roams about with God; he remains faithful to the Holy One.

¹  Reversal of the Exodus: Return to Egypt and Exile in Assyria When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt.