An Exposition of Hosea 11-13, Exposition · Chapter 13 · Verse 5
VER. 5.
I knew thee in the wilderneſs, in a place of great drought.
THE Wilderneſs, where there grew not one grain of Corn. And you who were ſo poor in the wilderneſs, Expoſ.depending on me for every bit of bread; yet after when you were fed, how proud and wanton grew you? Deut. 32. 15. But Jeſurun waxed fat and kicked—then he forſook God &c. Ezek. 16. 49. the Sodomites are condemned for behaving themſelves contemptuouſly againſt the poor. But theſe do it againſt God.
God evidenceth this his knowledg and acknowledgment of them as his People, in leading them through the wilderneſs, by ſeveral inſtances and expreſſions; he takes notice of this wilderneſs. Deut. 8. 15. Who led them through that great and terrible wilderneſs; Luctus ubique pavor, et plurima mortis imago. He knew them as peculier treaſure above all people, A Kingdom of Prieſts, an holy Nation. Exod. 19. 5, 6. He kept them as the apple of his eye. Deut. 32. 10. As an Eagle beareth her yong ones on or wings, Verſ. 11. They lacked nothing, Deut. 2. 7. He led them with a glorious Arm Iſa. 63. 12.
Now God knew them in the wilderneſs, 1 In reſpect of their ſin, which he viſited. 2 In regard of their wants, Gods knowledge & conduct of the People in the wilderneſs,which he provided for.
Firſt, They went Three daies and found no water, Exod. 15 22. Then when they found it, it was ſo bitter they could not drink of it, Verſ. 23. Then he ſweetned it by a miracle, Chap. 16. Then in the wilderneſs of Sin they complained that the whol Aſſembly would be ſlain with Hunger. Then Manna, a rain of Manna. Then Quails, Numb. 11. Exod 17. 2. They pitched in Rephidim, and there was no water, ſo that (Verſ. 4.) they were ready to ſtone Moſes. Then water out of the Rock is given them. But Verſ. 8. Then came Amalek to fight againſt them. As an even lay they were, when Moſes hands hung down, Amal… prevailed, but at laſt Joſhua diſcomfited them Cap. 18. Jethro was ſent to refreſh them, with Moſes his Wife, and two ſons. Chap. 19. and Chap. 20. God gave them his Law. Miriam and Aaron contend with Moſes, Numb. 12. [that God appeaſes] Numb. 13. Spies being ſent they diſcourage the People, yet God leads them on, Numb. 16. Corah, Dathan and Abiram conſpire, upon which the earth opened and ſwallowed up the Rebels. On the morrow (Verſ. 41.) all the Congregation (an hundred forty and ſeven thouſand) murmured againſt Moſes and Aaron for it; upon which the Plague came. They were Idolaters, Amos 5. 25. Act. 7. 43. beſides the Calf, Num. 21. King Arad the Cananite fought againſt them, and took ſome of them priſoners. Verſ. 5. They loathing Manna, had fiery Serpents ſent, Verſ. 22. Sion King of the Amorites coms out againſt them and fights. Verſ. 33. Og King of Baſon fights againſt them. Chap. 22. Then Balac ſends to curſe them. Numb. 25. The People committed whoredom with the Daughters of Moab (upon which a plague) and went to the ſacrifice of their gods at Baal-Peor, upon wch all the Heads of the People, which joyned to Baal-Peor, were hung up before the Lord. Numb. 31. They war with Midian, ſlay their five Kings, deſtroy their Cities, Women, Children, Flocks, Thirty two thouſand Women that had not known Man, they take captive. And in this war they had not loſt one man, Verſ. 29. Now,
1. From their ſin that God knew, and yet deſtroyed them not for it. Obſerve, mans wickedneſs, and Gods goodneſs.
2. From the proviſion God made for them. Obſerve Firſt, It's a great mercy for God to know a man in time of Obſ. 1.diſtreſs. This is Gods way.
Men know in proſperity; But let us make God our Uſe.friend, he wil be a friend otherwiſe than men will be.
Let not us be dejected in times of trouble; that's the time Obſ. 2for God to know thee; be willing to follow God in any eſtate.
Gods knowing of us in diſtreſs, is a mighty engagement. Let us look back to the times when we were in trouble.Obſ. 3.
Let us know Gods Cauſe when it ſuffers, and know our Brethren Obſ. 4.when they ſuffer.
Gods knowledg is operative and working: It does us good. Obſ. 5.Our knowledg of God ſhould be ſo too. To ſin againſt our knowledg of God is evil, but to ſin againſt Gods knowing of us is worſe.