Hosea 11:1—When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.

Two Sons:

  • To Egypt for protection 
  • Left Egypt when it was safe
  • Through the water
  • 40 years/days in wilderness
  • Testing: failure / victory
  • Into Gentile territory
  • One is disobedient, the other is obedient.

By the end of Matt 2, Jesus is in Galilee, or the upper portion of first century Israel (at that time, in the Roman province of Syria).

  • This fulfils a prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2: "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
  • This prophecy is in fact quoted by Matthew in 4:16.
  • The rest of the prophecy, Isa 9:3-6, is not quoted directly in the NT, but the Messianic association has been made. (So Händel was not wrong!)

The Messiah is a "Nazarene," from the town whose name is related to the Hebrew word netser, which means root or shoot. See the prophecies of Isaiah 4:2; 11:1; Jer 33:15; Zech 3:8; 6:12.

  • Isaiah 11:1—There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth…
  • Jesse is the father of David; Israel is to expect a Davidic Messiah.
  • The Spirit will rest on him in a far fuller measure than it had on any person in the OT (like David or the various judges).
  • The Christ possess wisdom and a conviction to judge fairly, righteously.

Some key points from the series so far:

  • 5 women, 6 O.T. passages, many Christological connections…
  • God the Son comes into our world of hardship, pain, dust and grime. Am I willing to "get my hands dirty," acting "incarnationally”?
  • Is there room in my heart to serve Jesus and Herod? Can anyone serve two kings? Who is he to whom I give my ultimate allegiance, Christ or self?
  • The wise men devoted time, energy, & expense to worship Christ. How about me?
  • Israel is God's disobedient son, Jesus his obedient son. The parallels between the OT people of God and the Christ are many and they are important.
  • The Messiah is the prophesied Son of God—whose coming and life bring joy, pain, and wonder.

Next: The Water & the Challenge