CHAPTER 11

(740 B.C.)

PERSISTENT REBELLION

¹When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My Son out of Egypt. (This Passage was quoted concerning Christ in Mat. 2:15. It properly explains how Prophecy can have a double fulfillment.

First of all, it pertains to Israel being delivered from Egyptian bondage. And then it also pertains to Christ, as a baby, being taken to Egypt by Joseph and Mary in order to escape the murderous intent of Herod. When King Herod died, which evidently was brought about shortly, an Angel then told Joseph that it would now be safe to leave Egypt and go back to Israel, which they did [Mat. 2:13-21].)

²As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. (As they called them, refers to the Prophets calling Israel to Repentance. So they went from them, pertains to Israel turning a deaf ear to those who were their truest friends and best advisors. They continued to offer sacrifices to Baal, and burn incense to graven images.)

³I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. (The first phrase is a picture of Gods guiding and guarding care over His People, and that despite their waywardness. They knew not that I healed them, pertains to their going astray, suffering its consequences, and then being picked up by the Lord, Who handled them tenderly and gently, healing their hurts and misdirection. However, they did not apprehend or appreciate Gods gracious Design and dealings with them. To use an old adage, they bit the hand that fed them.)

⁴I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they who take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. (The idea of the Verse is that the Lord was abundantly good to Israel, and in every way, but they still had no desire for Him.)

⁵He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. (The phrase, He shall not return into the land of Egypt, refers to Ephraims expectation of help from the king of Egypt, as found in II Ki. 17:4. However, that help was not forthcoming, because the Lord had decreed, but the Assyrian shall be his king.

All of this happened because they refused to repent and return to the Lord.)

⁶And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. (The phrase, Because of their own counsels, refers to their clever plan of playing off the king of Assyria against the king of Egypt. However, those counsels would lead to their destruction.)

⁷And My People are bent to backsliding from Me: though they called them to the Most High, none at all would exalt Him. (The first phrase of this Verse is extremely expressive, with almost every word having an emphasis of its own. With all their sinfulness and shortcomings, Israel was still the People of God My People. Moreover, the backsliding was not an occasional lapse, but was their habit, their tendency.

Though they called them to the Most High, refers to the Prophets calling Israel from their idols to Jehovah, but all to no avail. None at all will exalt Him, refers to them refusing to abandon their idols and give allegiance to the Most High.)

GOD STILL LOVES ISRAEL

⁸How shall I give you up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver you, Israel? how shall I make you as Admah? how shall I set you as Zeboim? My Heart is turned within Me, My repentings are kindled together. (The agony of the love which pulsates in this Verse touches the heart. Admah and Zeboim were the companion cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and suffered like destruction [Gen. 14:2, 8s]. Ephraim had become so sinful that there was nothing left to do but destroy hence, the pleadings of God for the nation to seek Him and do that which was right in His Sight.

The word repentings, as it refers to God, which it does in this case, implies no change of purpose on the side of God, but only a change of procedure consistent with His Purpose of Everlasting Love.)

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 in the midst of you: and I will not enter into the city. (Verses 9 through 11 proclaim the Second Advent of Christ, when the Lord will come from Heaven, with all the Saints, and will set up the Kingdom Age. I will not return to destroy Ephraim, refers to the Lords Second Coming, which will not be to destroy Ephraim, but instead to save Ephraim.

The phrase, For I am God, and not man, refers to Him being able to see the end from the beginning.

The Holy One in the midst of you, pertains to Israels stupidity in not accepting such a One, Who is able to lead them, guide them, and give them protection from all their enemies. Even though He was in the midst of them, and not in other nations, still, they would not serve Him, heed Him, or obey Him.)

GOD WILL RESTORE ISRAEL

¹⁰They shall walk after the LORD: He shall roar like a lion: when He shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. (The word west is interesting! Of the approximate 12,000,000 Jews in the world, approximately 5,000,000 are in Israel proper, and approximately 5,000,000 are in the United States, which is west of Israel. These will gladly leave America in order to reside with Christ, Whom they will then recognize as their Messiah.

The word tremble is also interesting, in that Israel, although delirious with joy because of their great Deliverance from the Antichrist, still, will realize that the One Who has saved them is the One Whom they crucified so long ago.)

¹¹They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, sa ys the LORD. (And I will place them in their houses, says the LORD, refers to all the Jews, and from all over the world, being restored to the Land of Israel, and made safe and secure, i.e., in their houses.)

SINS OF ISRAEL

¹²Ephraim compasses Me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet rules with God, and is faithful with the Saints. (This Prophecy contrasts Ephraim and Jacob the former, self-reliant and trusting the kings of Assyria and Egypt; the latter [Judah], weak, dependent, and trusting Jehovah, the God of his father Isaac. So the lesson is here once more taught that God cannot give victories to the flesh, and that Jehovahs servant, Judah, is strong when he is weak [II Cor. 12:10].)