Hosea 11:1

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

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As we read in the Old Testament, Egypt is seen as a place of both refuge and bondage. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers but rose to a high position in Egypt. His family moved to Egypt in order to survive a famine in Canaan. The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians but God worked through Moses and led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Hosea speaks of this time in Hosea 11:1. In spite of Israel’s continued sin, God continues to love them.

While Hosea was speaking historically about Israel, Matthew 2:15 refers to this same verse as a fulfillment of prophecy to refer to Mary and Joseph moving to Egypt to escape Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus. The family stayed in Egypt until Herod’s death and then returned to Nazareth.

The verse in Hosea speaks of God freeing the Israelites from Egypt. The verse in Matthew shows God’s love by sending Jesus to free all people, including the Israelites, the Egyptians, and us from sin.

– Mrs. Kim Cain