Hosea 11:7

Hosea 11:7 says, And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.  Though Israel was called to be God's people through His mercy and their acceptance of Him as their God, they had backsliden into sin.  Though they were called to do God's will in their lives, none would exalt God.  We today as followers of Christ are God's by His mercy alone, and we are called to exalt Him in all that we do.  When we fail to do so, we like Israel are guilty of backsliding into sin once more.  Verse eight adds, How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.  This states that God debated with Himself about the fate of His chosen people.  Though nearly all had rejected Him, God was still ready to sustain them if they would turn to Him.   God does not let His people suffer destruction easily. Today, when we backslide, God isn't just waiting to destroy us, but He is waiting in mercy to restore us.  God does not want anyone to go away into everlasting separation, but He will allow it if we do not accept His gift of salvation. Verse nine continues, I 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 enter into the city. If God had acted as men act, Israel, or Ephraim as a part of the nation was singled out, would have been utterly destroyed.  God was not a man though, but He was and is God.  Verse ten states, They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.  Though most of the people of Israel had turned away from God, there was coming a day when all people would be called to follow after Him.  Though God could have destroyed them, He chose instead to call them to Himself again.  His voice would be like a lion roaring, something that could not easily be ignored.  When we as sinners hear the voice of God calling to us, we should tremble.  When we as redeemed sinners hear His voice, we should rejoice.  Verse eleven adds, They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.  Though the people of Israel were scattered, when they heard God voice and responded to His call, they would be restored to their houses.  They would no longer be under the bondage of sin but would be restored to a right relationship with God.  We know this happened when Jesus Christ came into the world. Through our faith in Christ, we have a heavenly home.  There is a debate today about whether this is a mansion or a room, but that is not really the point.  It is where God is and if He prepared it, we can be certain that it will be perfect for us.  Verse twelve continues, Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.  God said that at this point, Judah, part of the divided kingdom, had not totally turned their backs on Him.  We know that they to would eventually be destroyed for their disbelief, but not yet.  There was always a remnant who believed, even when the nation as a whole turned away from God.  We as His followers are the ones who need to remain true to Him, no matter what the rest of the world does.