Drawn With Cords and Bands of Love - Hosea 11:4

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them”, and in chapter eleven and verse four of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love” where we read,

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love:

and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

The verse begins, “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love:” Hosea began with the words, “I drew them with cords” or “I, Jehovah God, lead, marched along and attracted them, the people of Israel, by the use of ropes, measuring lines or tackling” “of a man” which means “belonging to a male human being”, “with bands of love” or “by the use of ropes, cordage, foliage or chains belonging to appetite and affection”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God attracted the people of Israel with ropes and tackling belonging to a male human being, and by the use of ropes of affection. 

The verse continues, “and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.” Hosea added the words, “and I was to them” or “and I, Jehovah God, existed toward them, the people of Israel” “as they that take off the yoke” which means “similar and in likeness to the people who exalt, extol, lift up and raise separate and apart from the yoke as imposed on the neck” “on their jaws” or “upon their, the people of Israel's, cheeks or jaw-bone”, “and I laid meat” which means “and I, Jehovah God, stretched out, extended and offered food to be devoured and consumed”“unto them” or “to them, the people of Israel”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God said He was similar to a person who lifts a yoke from the neck and cheeks, and He fed them with grain and food. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God provided for the people of Ephraim, and He lessened their load. He fed them, and He caused them to come close to Him by His affection. God loves“Ephraim or Israel”, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, He demonstrate His love toward everyone in the world. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and lead us by His Holy Spirit to realize His great provision and protection over us all the days of our lives. 

Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “he shall not return in to the land of Egypt, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".