For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you

Hosea 11:1-12

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. 

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them, I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

“Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.

My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man—  the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities in wrath.

They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.

I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.

This chapter lets us see right into the infinitely loving parent-heart of God. All down the long years of history, from Egypt on, and despite all he has done for them, Israel has rejected God's love. The nation deserves no mercy. Yet God still shrinks from destroying them. He is torn between love and justice, neither of which can be denied. This is the pain he took to himself on the cross of Christ.

Why?

God is love. The Lord is full of compassion. Even his people make Him angry, let them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.

God will settle them in their homes and send Jesus Chris into us to be our savior from sin. 

We have to confess, that we are sinners, we are flesh, and no one can overcome the sins by our strength, God is our strength, our savior. Confess my sin and obey God's command to be a real Christian before the Lord and among people to witness the love and honor of the Lord.

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神的愛人不明白，神愈愛他們，人卻走更遠。

以色列人還不認識神時，神已經愛他們了。年幼表示生命狀態來未成熟時。

他們不去埃及，卻轉去亞述。神責罰人，卻不捨棄人。神不忍心，神不對人殘忍，卻對自己殘忍，所以有耶穌十架的愛。最後神的用愛的方式改變人，被神的威嚴、尊榮、保障感動人如獅子一般，讓人有安全感的王的保障下，急速的回到神的面前。神不用強迫方式，叫人無奈的順服。神的愛人不明白，因為人看重的與神看重的不一樣。

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How?

God is love, his love endures forever! So we have to love others with love.