Christ in All of Scripture - Hosea 11:8-9

[Hosea 11:8-9](https://www.esv.org/Hosea+11:8/) 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.

This passage is one of the most moving statements in the Bible portraying the Lord’s love for his people. With deeply emotive language, God declares that he simply cannot forsake his people. What can he do but love them! They are his. His “compassion grows warm and tender” (v. 8). Such unfailing love is the only explanation for why, centuries after Hosea’s prophecy, God would send his own Son to vindicate his justice while securing sinful people as his own beloved (John 3:16).

This series of posts pairs a brief passage of Scripture with associated study notes drawn from the Gospel Transformation Bible.

Related Resources

Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. Learn more or donate today at crossway.org/about.