How does the foster-father image accompany the restraint of wrath?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Israel’s ingratitude receives both Assyrian-rule warnings and a promise against utter destruction.

Chapter breakdown

As morning passes, Israel's king has passed away. God loved Israel as a child and called his son out of Egypt. The edition identifies Israel as the immediate referent, also applying the figure to Christ with Matthew 2:15. When called, the people depart and offer victims to Baalim and idols; the note names Moses and Aaron as the callers. God was like a foster father carrying Ephraim, whose people did not know he healed them. He will draw them with cords of Adam and bands of love, lift the yoke at their jaws and put food before them.

They will not return to Egypt; Assyria will be their king because they would not convert. The sword begins in cities and consumes chosen men and heads. The people long for God's return, but a yoke is laid together upon them and not taken off. God asks how to deal with Ephraim and protect Israel: should they become like Adama and Seboim? His heart turns and repentance is stirred. The edition names these as cities near Sodom that suffered like destruction. He will not execute fierce wrath or return to destroy Ephraim, because he is God rather than man, the holy one among them, and will not enter the city.

They will walk after the Lord, who roars like a lion, and the children of the sea will fear. They fly like birds from Egypt and doves from Assyria, and he places them in their own houses. Ephraim surrounds him with denials and Israel with deceit, while Juda goes down as a witness with God, faithful with the saints. Incense, learning to walk, destroyed gate bars, and an explicit universal Gospel gathering are not supplied by this chapter.

The story inside

The note applies Israel’s call from Egypt also to Christ. Chosen men and heads are consumed; the yoke is not removed. The closing promise returns birds and doves to their own houses.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The note applies Israel’s call from Egypt also to Christ.
2
Chosen men and heads are consumed; the yoke is not removed.
3
The closing promise returns birds and doves to their own houses.

Test your recall

Which cities near Sodom appear in the question about Ephraim?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 99891–99897
11:1. As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel passed away. Because Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt. I called my son.... Viz., Israel. But as the calling of Israel out of Egypt, was a figure of the calling of Christ from thence; therefore this text is also applicable to Christ, as we learn from Matthew 2.15.
Lines 99905–99910
11:3. And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them. 11:4. I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.
Lines 99921–99926
11:8. How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up. Adama, etc.... Adama and Seboim were two cities in the neighborhood of Sodom: and underwent the like destruction.
Lines 99928–99930
11:9. I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.