Hosea 11:1 - Jesus The True Israel

Hosea 11:1 

When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Message: Jesus the True Israel

Time: Hosea ministered during the 8th century BC focusing his attention primarily on the northern kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim). During the early part of Hosea's ministry, Jeroboam II ruled over Israel and the northern kingdom enjoyed a great deal of prosperity. But spiritually and morally, the Israelites were bankrupt, having fallen into idolatry that would ultimately cause God to drive them out of their land in 722 BC. The book represents 40 years of prophetic ministry - 755 BC to 710 BC. 

What the Lord is Saying:

Hosea

Even as I write the words above, I immediately think of Hosea - a prophet called to speak to a people trading God for idols; and yet a people that is living with prosperity. That itself sounds familiar to today's times. American's seem to love their idols: safety, security, entertainment, like to control their own lives and not be told what to do. Hosea was called to speak to this kind of people. 

I read the first chapter of Hosea and he was told by God to take a harlot as a wife and then named children with names that signified lost people. I mean, his life was supposed to mirror the acts of the people he was called to minister towards. “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord.” He did it. 

Then in the 3rd chapter Hosea is told by the Lord to marry again. “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” He did it. Go love a woman loved by her husband. 

Basically that's it with the book, in regards to Hosea. The rest of the book is writing's about the Lord's words toward this people - how they have messed up, but one day they will return to the Lord. Still, initially I'm surprised about Hosea and what he is called by God to do and be. 

Now the lesson

Now onto this lesson, which is a quote from Hosea 11:1. The name of this lesson is - Jesus the true Israel. The TableTalk reading for this text states that 

"Matthew tells us that Jesus fulfills Hosea 11 (Matthew 2:13-15). Jesus is the true Israel, the faithful Israel who succeeds where old covenant Israel failed. Jesus when tested, passed the test, while Israel did not. Jesus is worthy to be called God's Son because of who He is in His deity and because of what He accomplished in His humanity." 

In addition, Tabletalk describes 'sonship,' that God's people, chosen by Him, are sons of God by adoption -- and therefore, inherit all of the promises given to God's old covenant people. 

I'm not sure I have ever really taken the time to examine this idea or the assertion of Matthew 2:13-15 being prophecy fulfilled from Hosea 11:1. Is this prophecy? Or an illustration? 

In the Old Testament, Israel is clearly called by God and chosen to His representative and to make the truth of Him known to everyone. Yet, Israel fails. They wallow back and forth in this commitment. Their temple has a special place for Gentiles and yet they often ignore them. They fall into idolatry at times and become adherents to the Law and miss grace. Jesus is sent by God to speak to all people - Jews and Gentiles and bring the message of God to all. Jesus succeeds where Israel failed. 

Thus, reading Hosea 11:1 - When Israel was a youth I loved him - God loves Israel and after Israel was called, you could describe the 400 years of its beginning as its time of youth. God loved Israel and yet Israel did not always love God. and out of Egypt I called My son - so, out of Egypt Jesus is called. 

There are differing views on this. One of the commentaries provided on Biblehub.com is by Charles Ellicott (1819-1905), an English theologian who wrote a commentary on the New Testament in 1878 and then was editor, meaning he wrote some but mostly compiled commentaries of other writers on the Old Testament in 1897. On this passage he remarks - "In this context there cannot be a prophecy of the Christ, for obstinate conduct and rebellion would thus be involved in the prediction." Matthew 2:15 "quotes the passage in illustration of the fact that the true Son of God was also submitted in His youth to the hard schooling of a cruel exile." To me he is saying this isn't a prophecy but instead an illustration. My brother made the comment that we need to always view the words of the Old Testament as also prophetic of Jesus. 

In Exodus 4:22 is the remark that "the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son." Ellicott believes this means that this text is unique to Israel. Joseph Benson (1749-1821) comments Israel is called God’s son, and his firstborn, and therein was an eminent figure of the Messiah, in whom all God’s promises were fulfilled. Both are God's sons, but Jesus fulfilled all God's promises while Israel did not. Benson states further, "And this is observable in many other prophecies, which can but improperly be applied to those of whom they were at first spoken; and, taking them in their strict, literal sense, are only fulfilled in Christ."

I like the word illustration instead of prophecy. Matthew quotes from Hosea to show the similarity between the two, but I don't think Hosea is a prophecy of Jesus, in that I don't think Matthew believe that Hosea's words were written to only be about Jesus, but rather Hosea's words now are more clearly brought to light by who Jesus is and became. The events of Israel are analogous to Jesus. They are similar.  

Promise: Jesus did do what Israel did not: completely get the message of God to all people and was successful.  

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for this passage and learning about Jesus and Israel and the similarity between the two but also seeing that Jesus fulfilled all that God intended - salvation to all. Thank you for Israel and how I am reminded of how I need to be true each and every day to your calling. Continue to give me wisdom as I study these truths. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of April is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.