Hosea 11:1-4

God's Love for Israel

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.

I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.