Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Hosea Chapter 11
Metaphysically Interpreting Hosea 11:1-12
11:1When Israel was a child, then I loved him,
and called my son out of Egypt.
11:2The more the prophets called them,
the more they went from them:
they sacrificed unto the Baalim,
and burned incense to graven images.
11:3Yet I taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them on my arms;
but they knew not that I healed them.
11:4I drew them with cords of a man,
with bands of love;
and I was to them as they
that lift up the yoke on their jaws;
and I laid food before them.11:5They shall not return into the land of Egypt;
but the Assyrian shall be their king,
because they refused to return to me.
11:6And the sword shall fall upon their cities,
and shall consume their bars,
and devour them, because of their own counsels.
11:7And my people are bent on backsliding from me:
though they call them to him that is on high,
none at all will exalt him.11:8How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?
how shall I cast thee off, Israel?
how shall I make thee as Admah?
how shall I set thee as Zeboiim?
my heart is turned within me,
my compassions are kindled together.
11:9I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger,
I will not return to destroy Ephraim:
for I am God, and not man;
the Holy One in the midst of thee;
and I will not come in wrath.11:10They shall walk after Jehovah,
who will roar like a lion;
for he will roar,
and the children shall come trembling from the west.
11:11They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt,
and as a dove out of the land of Assyria;
and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah.
11:12Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood,
and the house of Israel with deceit;
but Judah yet ruleth with God,
and is faithful with the Holy One.
November 13, 1927: Hosea 11:1-4
What faculty is emphasized and personified in today's lesson? Ephraim, the star character in today's lesson, represents the will; the prophet is preaching about the will, its backsliding, its gods of idolatry, and its redemption.
What is the meaning of “Hosea”? Hosea means “Jehovah is salvation.” The words, “Jesus” and “Hosea,” are closely related; each word signifies the person who depends for his help upon the superman, or the idea of God's perfect man.
What is the meaning of the statement that the I AM called Israel out of Egypt when Israel was a child? Israel represents true thoughts, the offspring of the I AM principle. These thoughts seem to be imprisoned in materiality (Egypt), but God recognizes His own and through His love calls them out of Egypt.
What is the meaning of the sacrifice to Baalim and the burning of incense to graven images? Baalim represents personal consciousness exercising dominion independent of Spirit; the graven images represent the material forms that result from the Baalim state of mind. To sacrifice and to burn incense mean to give our substance and our life to material thoughts and things.
August 26, 1934: Hosea 11:1-4
How do we consciously receive help from God? When we claim God as our help through our I AM identity, we become conscious of renewed strength, power, health, or whatever help we most desire.
Explain the meaning of “Israel” that is stressed in this lesson. The word Israel, as used in this lesson, discloses that state of mind which recognizes in man the son of God, regardless of the measure of achievement. Israel here means “God persists or perseveres”; “he who prevails with God.”
What is meant by the verse “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt”? The ideal of spiritual truth appeals to man, even when he is deep in that power of sense consciousness (Egypt). Aspiration toward something better brings him to recognize himself as a son of God and to work to reach a higher standard.
Does personal consciousness interfere with the realization of our spiritual nature? In the beginning of our effort to express our true nature as sons God, we often magnify the personal self, and thus prevent ourselves from gaining what we seek.
What does Hosea imply by his use of the word “Ephraim”? Ephraim represents the will. As used by Hosea, the word seems to imply a headstrong, rebellious, dominating phase of willfulness.
How does Hosea describe divine love? Hosea's conception of love is of a passionate effort to comfort, uplift, and free man from his servitude to sense. Love in the soul is divine compassion exerting its saving through an appeal to the will of man.
May 14 1950: Hosea 11:8-11
Is the will “broken” in this transformation [from material to spiritual focus]? No, its strength is left intact, but its direction is changed. “I will not return to destroy Ephraim . . . I will not come in wrath.”
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-05-2014
