Hosea XXIII

The parable of the prodigal son is echoed in chapter 13 of Hosea. We will walk through both.  We will see two different endings.  Each ending will come from a conscious choice. 

Let's walk through both and see the tearing of familial bonds. 

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:11-16)

A son: The pride of the father's heart. 

A nation: The pride of the Father's heart. 

Then came the words that tears the bond apart: A beloved son wants his money.  Right now. He wants to go his own way, disregarding all that his father has done for him.  His father concedes, deeply hurt and afraid for his son's wild abandon of all that is good in his life.  

A beloved nation wants its freedom.  Right now.  It wants to go its own way, disregarding all that the Father has done for it. The Father watches His wayward nation careen out of control, as they lie to themselves as to who has provided all they have. 

   
When Ephraim spoke, people trembled;
he was exalted in Israel.
But he became guilty of Baal worship and died.
Now they sin more and more;
they make idols for themselves from their silver,
cleverly fashioned images,
all of them the work of craftsmen.
It is said of these people,
“They offer human sacrifices!
They kiss calf-idols!”
Therefore they will be like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears,
like chaff swirling from a threshing floor,
like smoke escaping through a window. (1-3)

The son in Jesus' story comes to his senses--he remembers how much his father loves him, and he feels shame.  Such shame that he will not return as a son, but as a slave. 

When he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants." So he got up and went to his father. (Luke 15:17-20) 

This nation has to be reminded of how the Father has cared for it.  This nation is not coming to its senses. 

But I have been the Lord your God
ever since you came out of Egypt.
You shall acknowledge no God but me,
no Savior except me.
I cared for you in the wilderness,
in the land of burning heat.
When I fed them, they were satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;
then they forgot me. (4-6)

An embrace. A celebration. The bond is restored because that was what the father wanted all along.  

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24) 

But what of the beloved nation?

No repentance. No willingness to return in humility, seeking forgiveness and longing to be restored to the Father.  No coming to its senses. 

You are destroyed, Israel,
because you are against me, against your helper.
Where is your king, that he may save you?
Where are your rulers in all your towns,
of whom you said,
"Give me a king and princes"?
So in my anger I gave you a king,
and in my wrath I took him away.
The guilt of Ephraim is stored up,
his sins are kept on record.
Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him,
but he is a child without wisdom;
when the time arrives,
he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb. (9-13)

This story will end in bloodshed.

The Father will turn into a righteous Judge.

No embrace. No celebration.  No bond restored.

Only heartache.

The beloved son chose his ending.

The beloved nation of Israel chose theirs.