Single lesson
Hosea 11: Out of Egypt I Called My Son
Hosea 11:1–7; Hosea 11:8–12
Hosea 11:1–7 speaks about the Lord’s care for Israel and Israel’s refusal to respond. The passage uses family pictures and clear warnings to show both tender love and serious judgement. This lesson also brings together God’s Love for Israel.
Before you teach
In these verses, the Lord speaks about Israel as a child and as "my son". He describes calling, teaching, healing and feeding them, then explains that the people turned to other gods and refused to repent, so Assyria will rule over them. This passage is prophecy and teaching, not a new story scene.
Explain the central teaching of Hosea 11: Out of Egypt I Called My Son, using two details from the reading. Hosea 11:1–7 teaches that the Lord cared for his people with love, yet their stubborn turning away brought coming judgement. This passage shows that the Holy One speaks both mercy and truth, refusing to ignore sin while still calling his people back.
Welcome: Hosea 11: Out of Egypt I Called My Son
5 minIntroduce “Out of Egypt I Called My Son”, “God’s Love for Israel” and locate Hosea 11:1–7; Hosea 11:8–12. Hosea 11:1–7 teaches that the Lord cared for his people with love, yet their stubborn turning away brought coming judgement. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Hosea 11:1, Hosea 11:4, Hosea 11:7
Read and explain the passage
12 minOut of Egypt I Called My Son (Hosea 11:1–7): The passage opens with the Lord’s love for Israel: "When Israel was a child, then I loved him". Calling Israel "my son" shows a close relationship. "Called my son out of Egypt" recalls Israel being called out of Egypt by the Lord in this statement.
God’s Love for Israel (Hosea 11:8–12): The passage opens with repeated questions: ‘How can I give you up?’ and ‘How can I hand you over?’ Ephraim and Israel are named together, showing the Lord’s personal address to his people. God also asks whether he should make Israel like Admah or Zeboiim. The strongest emphasis is that his heart is turned within him and his compassion is aroused.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Out of Egypt I Called My Son”, “God’s Love for Israel”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Hosea 11:1, Hosea 11:8
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What caring actions does the Lord say he did for Israel in these verses?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage shows that the Holy One speaks both mercy and truth, refusing to ignore sin while still calling his people back. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Hosea 11:1, Hosea 11:3, Hosea 11:4, Hosea 11:2, Hosea 11:5, Hosea 11:7, Hosea 11:10, Hosea 11:11, Hosea 11:12
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Hosea 11: Out of Egypt I Called My Son: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Out of Egypt I Called My Son”, “God’s Love for Israel” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Hosea 11:1, Hosea 11:7, Hosea 11:12
Closing: return to God’s Love for Israel
3 minRevisit Hosea 11:8–12. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about God’s Love for Israel and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Hosea 11:8, Hosea 11:10, Hosea 11:12
Questions to explore
What caring actions does the Lord say he did for Israel in these verses?
Look for the verbs in Hosea 11:1, 11:3 and 11:4 such as called, taught, healed, drew and fed.
Hosea 11:1, Hosea 11:3, Hosea 11:4
What shows that Israel turned away from the Lord?
Notice both their worship of Baals and images, and the statement that they refused to repent and were determined to turn from him.
Hosea 11:2, Hosea 11:5, Hosea 11:7
How do verses 10 to 12 hold hope and honesty together?
Notice the promise that the children will come and be settled, alongside the direct naming of falsehood, deceit and unfaithfulness.
Hosea 11:10, Hosea 11:11, Hosea 11:12
Make, think or respond
Hosea 11: Out of Egypt I Called My Son: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Hosea 11:1–7; Hosea 11:8–12. Use “Out of Egypt I Called My Son”, “God’s Love for Israel” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Hosea 11: Out of Egypt I Called My Son connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Out of Egypt I Called My Son”, “God’s Love for Israel” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Hosea 11:1–7; Hosea 11:8–12. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Hosea 11:1–7; Hosea 11:8–12. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Hosea 11
1 “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
2 They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.
3 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by their arms, but they didn’t know that I healed them.
4 I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.
5 “They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.
6 The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.
7 My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.
8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man—the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after Yahweh, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.
12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.