Hosea 11:8-9 How shall I give you up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver you, Israel? how shall I make you as Admah? how shall I set you as Zeboim?… Many have been the ways adopted by God to communicate His thoughts and reveal His will to the human race. But in all, Divine truths were always represented in a manner most adapted to the constitution of the human mind. Three things suggested by the passage. I. MAN IS ABLE TO RESIST GOD IN THE DISPENSATIONS OF HIS MERCY. The supposition that man is governed by some Divine fate, that he is a passive being, destitute of a capacity to act in any way besides in accordance with the Divine will, has arisen partly from three sources. 1. Unacquaintance with the nature of the human will Man is so constituted as to be able to exercise authority not only over his own feelings, actions, and character, but also over the heart itself; he can regulate his disposition, so as to turn his whole soul to be a sanctuary to particular objects. Three reasons for this view. (1) Mankind in general believe that they are free — at liberty to choose any course of action they please. (2) Our own consciousness. We are conscious that our actual volitions are such and only such as we please to put forth. (3) Our moral nature implies the same truth. 2. Unacquaintance with God's moral government — confounding the natural with the moral. God does not rule man with an irresistible force, but with motives of gentleness and love. 3. Misinterpretation of some particular portions of the Word of God. II. THAT MAN'S RESISTANCE RENDERS IT NECESSARY, ON GOD'S PART, TO GIVE HIM UP. 1. The most applicable means is insufficient for recovering him. 2. The only means is insufficient to recover him. III. THERE IS AN INFINITE, COMPASSIONATE RELUCTANCE ON GOD'S PART TO GIVE UP MAN. 1. The relation that exists between God and man renders Him reluctant to give him up. One is a father, the other is a child. 2. God's knowledge of man renders Him reluctant to give him up. 3. God's dealings towards man prove that He is infinite in mercy, reluctant to give him up. The most illustrious display of Divine mercy was the sending of God's only begotten Son into the world. This mercy was displayed also in sending the Holy Spirit. Then if God feels so intensely for those who are strangers and aliens from Him, ought not the same compassionate feeling to characterise His Church universally? And if we are free agents, having control over our dispositions and actions, or endowed with capacity to choose the right and reject the wrong; and if we are the objects of Divine pity, is it not our most incumbent duty to pity ourselves by receiving God's mercy, and obeying His commandments? (J. A. Morris.) Parallel Verses KJV: How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. |
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