“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1 NLT).
The Lord spoke through the prophet Hosea reminding Israel of His love and how He had brought them out of Egypt. Yet, here He used the phrase “my son,” which made the verse not only a reminder of God’s expressed love in the past, but also His intended manifestation of love in the future. For this is one of over 300 Messianic prophecies fulfilled in the coming of Christ Jesus.
The gospel of Matthew quoted this verse from Hosea when recounting the Christmas story. For it was fulfilled when Joseph obeyed the angel’s instruction to carry Jesus to Egypt to avoid King Herod’s murderous plan and then later to return after Herod’s death (Matt. 2:15).
The Bible is primarily about God. It is a love story and Christ is its lead character. Yet, we are the object of His love. And one Day soon Christ will return and will call us out of Egypt to abide with Him forever!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed when we consider the way Jesus has fulfilled the Scriptures. Yet, we long for the rest of the story. For we look for the Day of Christ’s return when You call us out of Egypt, out of this world to be with You forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.