Out of Egypt Did I Call My Son

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Out of Egypt Did I call My Son

When the wise men visited Jesus,  the baby King,  they were warned in a dream  to return  to their homes  by a different route.    And Joseph was warned  to flee to Egypt  with the baby,  because King Herod  would be looking  to kill them all.    So,  they obeyed God’s warnings  and  Matthew 2:14-15 records,

And he arose  and took the Child and His mother  by night,  and departed for Egypt;  and was there  until the death  of Herod,  that what was spoken  by the Lord  through the prophet  might be fulfilled,  saying,

“Out of Egypt  did I call My Son.”

That prophecy is found  in Hosea 11:1-4,  and there God says  in part,

When Israel was a youth  I loved him,   
And out of Egypt  I called My Son.   
The more  they called them,   
The more  they went  from them;   
They kept sacrificing  to the Baals   
And burning incense  to idols.   
Yet it is I  who taught Ephraim  to walk,   
I took them  in My arms;   
But they did not know  that I healed them.   
I led them with cords  of a man,  with bonds  of love,   
And I became  to them  as one who lifts the yoke  from their jaws;   
And I bent down  and fed them.

All of Hosea is prophecy,  so there is much more  in the context  of this passage.     The main gist  of what is being pointed out is that even though there is a wondrous fulfilling  of prophecy,  and tons  of evidence  of God’s loving care  —  the people still will not recognize  or admit the truth  of God’s loving care  for them.

They have felt  God’s healing  and leading.     They know exactly what God has said  in His word.     They sullenly realize  that God Almighty has bent down low  to help them  in their needs.     But,  they don’t appreciate anything  God has done  for them.     Instead,  they love their idols  and want to follow falsehoods.

They want  to spite the LORD.     They don’t want  to be beholden  to God,  admitting  all their weaknesses  and helplessness  in this world.     But,  no matter what people want  to think,  it is  as God sadly says  in Jeremiah 7:19,

“Do they spite Me?”  declares the LORD.     “Is it not themselves  they spite,  to their own shame?”

Those who reject Jesus’ lordship  in their lives  are only hurting themselves  eternally.     There is nothing they can do  that will really hurt  the LORD of lords.     God is truly sad  over mankind’s rebellion,  but,  He will not make us  into puppets.     We are the ones  who need  to see God’s eternal love  for us  and gladly accept all  of God’s guidance  and benefits  as gifts  of His sacrificial love.

As we see how God fulfills  His prophecies  and humbly accept the truth  of what we are  and what we can be  in Christ Jesus alone,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  knowing Your love  lifts all our burdens.     Now we can live  for You.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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