Israel (Ephraim) continued to reject the prophet’s warnings and offers of mercy on behalf of God. They continued to sin outrageously and to go to their idols. They would not listen. They refused to turn. And, when in trouble, they foolishly looked to and trusted in international treaties and relationships to bail them out. They left God, they strayed from him and looked for help in all the wrong places: “Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria. . . . Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!” (7:11-13). Things will get so bad that even death will be seen as preferable: “Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, ‘Cover us,’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us’” (10:8). Once again, this is not the final word. The prophet describes the turmoil in the Lord’s heart because of Israel’s sinfulness and tells of God’s great mercy toward his people: “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath” (11:8-9). How great is Israel’s hope! How great is ours!
Depth of mercy! Can there be
mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
me, the chief of sinners, spare?
I have long withstood His grace,
long provoked Him to His face;
would not hearken to His calls,
grieved Him by a thousand falls.
There for me the Savior stands,
shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps, but loves me still! --Charles Wesley (1740)
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