Hosea 11-14

“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled” (v11:8-9). In the heart of God, according to the Scriptures, we find both holiness and love. Hosea said that Israel’s sins (idolatry, sexual immorality, oppression of the poor, etc) were leading straight to judgment. However, God loved His people and grieved over their sin. He declared that “I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely” (14:4).

Because “God so loved the world,” He sent His Son; and because of that sacrifice, we can be holy.