When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Hosea 11
Hosea, the prophet of God in the 8th century BC, prophesied in northern kingdom of Israel. During the reign of Jeroboam II, the northern kingdom experienced a good deal of prosperity. But, the Israelites were spiritually and morally bankrupt, in idolatry that would result in God’s driving them out of their land in 722 BC by the Assyrians. It was a sad state made tragic by the people who had failed to be what God called them to be—a royal priesthood and a light to the nations. Hosea prophesied that despite God’s having graciously adopted Israel as His son, Israel was not true to its filial identity and would be finally cast out of the land. Hosea also saw that God would provide a renewed Israel who would serve the Lord faithfully. That hope for a true Israel that would be embodied in the incarnation of God’s true Son, Jesus Christ. In Matthew 2:13-15, he tells us that Jesus fulfills Hosea’s prophecy. He is the true Israel, the faithful Israel who succeeds where old covenant Israel failed. And, like ancient Israel, He came up out of Egypt and was tested in the wilderness. Jesus passed the test, making Him worthy to be called God’s Son because of who He is in His deity and because of what He accomplished in His humanity. The good news of the gospel is that Christians make up the true Israel of God. In Christ, we share in the privileges and relationship He enjoys as God’s true Son. We are sons of God by adoption, His beloved children in Christ. We inherit all of the promises given to old covenant Israel. Those promises are for all of God’s people, the true Israel of God consisting of Jews and Gentiles who are united to Christ by faith alone. In Him, we are the heirs of the glorious destiny promised to God’s old covenant people. God’s covenant people includes all those who put their faith in the true fulfillment of Israel, Jesus our Lord. Together, Christians are united to Christ, having a common and exalted end. Let us rejoice in our status as the Israel of God and work to break down needless divisions in the body of Christ. God’s people are one Israel in the Savior.
Source: S C Ball December 18, 2023
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