The Father's Compassion

2/18/26 Bible Thought (Hosea 11)

Feb 18, 2026

Photo by Kerim Serdar Kutbulak on Unsplash

Main Idea: The Father’s compassion brings about an end to His wrath.

A Look at the Text:

In Hosea’s writing, a number of metaphors are used to describe Israel’s relationship with Yahweh.

In chapter 11, the focus is that of a father and son. First, Israel’s origin as a nation is recounted. It was Yahweh who drew Israel out from Egypt as His son (Hos. 11:1). Even more, it was He who took them by the hand and taught them to walk and carried them in His arms (Hos. 11:3).

Yet, for all He’d done for them, they abandoned Him in pursuit of Baal (Hos. 11:2). As a result, as we’ve seen many times before, judgment was sure to come. Though they wouldn’t return to Egypt geographically, they would return there metaphorically. They would soon find themselves in the distant land of Assyria as the direct consequence of their many sins.

However, judgment wouldn’t be the end of the story. For God is not only a God of justice, but a God of confounding steadfast love that endures forever. In the same breath, while there is the determination that they will be cast off, the Lord cries out:

“My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. ⁹I 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” (Hos. 11:8-9).

Just as an earthly dad administering discipline doesn’t enjoy it—so it goes for our Father in heaven. “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime” (Ps. 30:5). The end of the story wouldn’t be judgment but mercy. There would come a day when they would return home again (Hos. 11:11).

Bringing it Home:

The consistent testimony of Scripture is of a God who is ever gracious with His wayward people. Though called His child, Israel disappointed God indefinitely with their rebellion and pursuit of idol gods.

Yet there was coming another Son who would be called out of Egypt (see Matt. 2:15). This was the Son in whom the Father delighted (see Matt. 3:17). He alone obeyed without exception, perfectly following the Father’s will.

In the perfect plan and infinite wisdom of God, this Son willingly laid down His life as a sacrifice for sins, bearing the penalty of the wayward. This would forever showcase God’s perfect justice and unceasing love:

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).

We can rest assured today that if we are adopted in Christ, judgment isn’t the end of the story. The Father’s compassion is endless. His anger will not abide. Even if we may at times face discipline from our Father (see Heb. 12:6), His disposition toward us is fundamentally loving.

He is a God who is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love.