10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations [bargained among the Goyim], now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little [begin to diminish] for the burden of the king of princes [ on account of the massa (burden) of Melech Sarim.].

If the reader know how the Lord pleaded with Israel face to face in the wilderness by the hand of Moses, he will well understand the ordeal that yet awaits the tribes to qualify them for admission into the Holy Land. The Lord's power and the angel were with them in the wilderness of Arabia, but they saw not his person; so, I judge, will the Lord Jesus and some of the saints be with Israel in their second Exodus, seen perhaps by their leaders, as the Elohim were by Moses, Aaron, the elders, and by Joshua; but not visible to the multitude of the people, who must walk by faith and not by sight; for, though God is able to graft them in again, he can only do it upon a principle of faith; for the condition of their restoration laid down in his word is, "if they abide not in unbelief they shall be grafted in again."

It would seem from the testimony of Malachi, who prophesied concerning the ten tribes, that while they are in the wilderness of the people they will be disciplined by the law of Moses as their national code, while things concerning Jesus will be propounded to them as matter of faith; for it is testified by Hosea that they shall be gathered, and "shall sorrow a little for the burden of the King of princes" . The person with whom they will have more immediately to do in their second exodus is Elijah. There would seem to be a fitness in this.

Elpis Israel 3.6.

13 They sacrifice flesh [basar] for the sacrifices of Mine offerings, and eat it; but Yahweh accepteth them not; now will He remember their iniquity [avon], and visit [punishment on] their sins: they shall return to Egypt [Mitzrayim].

The period of Israel's probation drawing to a close, they will have advanced as far as Egypt on their return to Canaan, as it is written, "They shall return to Egypt". This is necessary, for it is written also in more senses than one, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." As they are to be gathered from the west, north, and east, they will have gone through the countries by a circuitous route to Egypt. They are to be gathered from Assyria, or the countries of Gogue's dominion; but I have not yet discovered in the word the line of march they are to follow in arriving at Egypt.

But that they are to be assembled there is certain; for it is written, "I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt." This was spoken some two hundred years after the overthrow of Samaria; and it is indisputable that neither Israel nor Judah have been again brought out of Egypt to inhabit their land: the exodus from Egypt is therefore still in the future.

But in coming out of Egypt they will have to cross both the Nile and the Red Sea; and although their march thither will have been one of conquest, it will not have been unattended with defeat, because of their own rebelliousness. The hearts of their enemies will be hardened to their own destruction to the last conflict.

Elpis Israel 3.6.

14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Such was the Deity's declaration through Hosea. It calls for reflection on the part of us who in these days occupy a relationship similar to that of Israel. If God were to speak from heaven (which He will do presently), would He say that we had forgotten Him?

A consideration of Israel's character will help us in arriving at a correct answer to the question. How had Israel forgotten their Maker? Had they professedly repudiated God? or His word? or ceased to make any mention of His name? By no means. Their continual boast was, 

"The people of the Lord are we." 

Their reply to one who would question their religious standing was, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these."

As to the Scriptures, they were painstaking to a degree to preserve them in their purity. How then had they forgotten God? Answer: They acknowledged God in lip, but denied Him in reality—in heart they said there was no God.

If they required help, to an idolatrous nation they flew for it. If they sought counsel, to man they went. God, to them, was practically a myth; and the great things of His law they counted as a strange thing. Let us measure ourselves by these facts. Whilst acknowledging God as our Father, our Guide, and our Strength, do we in our daily walk practically reject Him?

If we have not forgotten God—if He is a reality to us—then we give Him a place in all our arrangements. Then are we content to implicitly yield to His will in all things, realising the force and the beauty of His exhortation to cast all our care upon Him (1 Pet. 5:7), for He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5, 6).

Brethren, let us think on these things.

The Christadelphian, Feb 1889