The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 359

IJ. Oo1>'A LOVI': To lffRAP:T, 11'1 me OBtT,»l'l:OOD. "I loved him, and ce;lled my eon out of Egypt," etc. (v61'11. 1, 3, 4). <;nd'11 love to lffrael was shown: 1. In hi6 adoption. He choHo the nation, and called it "My son, my firstborn" (Exod. iv. 22). "farael was " type of Christ, and for the sake of him who was to be born of the seed of farael did God c11ll Israol 'My Son.'" In Christ the honour is extended to each individual believer (1 John iii. 1). 'l'ho relation expressed is one of peculiar endearment and of pre-eminent priviloge. It is connected, in the cMe of believers, with the impartation of o. new ,Principle of life in regeneration (1 John iii. 9). 'l'he children of believers are "holy" (1 Cor. vii. 14). Ood claims them in baptism as Ma children. The name "sons of God" shall be restored to Israel on their conversion (eh. i. 10). 2. In calling him out of Egypt. Freedom is an attribute of God's children (P.om. viii. 21). When God made Israel his son he bound himself to deliver him. He gives freedom to all his spiritual children. 'l'he call to leave Egypt was, moreover, a proof of God's faithfulness and love, in view of the promises me.de to the fathers. It bore also a prophetic character (Matt. i. 16). Egypt having, by express Divine selection, been chosen a ae.cond time as a place of refuge for God's Son-for him of whom Israel, God's firstborn, was but a type-the former call bccamo prophetically a pledge that in this ca.'le also the l<'ather's summons would in due .time arrive. Arrive, accordingly, it !lid. The word, "Out of Egypt have I called my son,n found a new and higher fulfilment. On the Divine side, the fulfilment was neither unforeseen nor undesigned. 3. In training him to go alone. "I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by the arms." God gave the nation freedom. He further taught it to use its freedom. Freedom, without power to 11Se it, is a sorry gift. In the training of Israel we observe: (1) Wisdom. 'l'he people, as they came from Egypt, were unfit for independent nationa1 existence. They could not go alone. 'fhe bondage they bad experienced had broken their manliness. They were servile, cowardly, fickle, petulant, disunited. 'l'hey had to be guided at every step-treated like children who cannot walk alone. But the point is, that God sought to train them to walk. It is not hiH wish that bis chilctren should go in leading-strings. lie would train them to self~reliance. He therefore put the people in situations fitted to develop their own powers. His training was wise. (2) Care. God wa.s !tint! and tender with Israel while yet they were weak. He did not try them above what they were able. In difficult situations he brought help to them in time. He was like a nurse who stands near while the child is walking, ready to catch it if it totters, and to support it when it can walk no further. Thus God deals with all his children (cf. 1 These. ii. 7). Wisdom, goodness, and care are manifest in his leading of them, especially in the beginning of their way. 4. In drawing the people with love. "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love." The people needed to be drawn. 'l'hey were often recalcitrant and ill to manage. God emphasizes here: (1) '!'he humanness of hia dmwing of them. "Cords of a man." '!'here was a humanness In the manner of his approach to them-speaking to them in human words, through human servants, and with the per!lllasions of human affection. 'l'he heart of God was found to be like the heart of man. The Almighty tempered his glory, and Spake to Israel as Father to Son. His cords were those of a man in another sense. He drew them by rational considerations. He treated them as ratioaal beings, anu. appealed to them throughout on rational grounds. God draws men in this way still. 'l'he Dible is the most human book in the world. Christ is God become man. 'l'hc Spirit acts through ratioDRl motives on the wilL (2) 'l'he gentleness of bis drawing of thorn. "Bands of love." God employed, not stern, but gentle methods to overcome the people's refractoriness. He sought to draw them to himself by kindness. Especially in the earlier stages of the wilderneH discipline do we find him making largo and merciful allowances for them. Tho people are constantly rebelling, but seldom Jo we rco.d of God so much as chiding them; nc bore with them, liko a father bearing with l1iij chilt!rcn. Ho kucw how ignorant they were; how much infirmity there was about tliem; how novel and trying were the situations in which he was placing them ; and lie mercifully gave thorn time to improve. '!'his was the drawing of love, of which every 0110 wlio knows God has also had ample experience. 5. In b(J11,ntijully prov·idin_,, for them. " I was to them as they that tako off the yoke on their jaws, awl I luiJ nwat unto them." God prnvidcd for Israel all thnt was 11cccs,ary for their sustcn:rncc, and not only thuH supplied their creature wants, but was kind iu his 111aoner of <loiu:; iL. llo was also the Healer of their diseases (Exod. xv . .:!ti).  ,'111() THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [on. x1. 1-12,