Hosea 11:8

‘How shall I give you up, Ephraim?

How shall I cast you off, Israel?

How shall I make you as Admah?

How shall I set you as Zeboiim?

My heart is turned within me,

My compassions are kindled together.'

YHWH's response is a cry from the heart. How could He give up Ephraim, how could He cast off Israel? How could He do to them what He had done to the cities of the plain Admah and Zeboiim whom, along with Sodom and Gomorrah He had destroyed with fire? For this latter see Deuteronomy 29:23; Genesis 10:19; Genesis 14:2 with Genesis 19:24; Genesis 19:29. This response was the result of the fact that ‘His heart had turned within Him'. That is, He had ‘changed His mind and purpose' with regard to final destruction (as opposed to temporary chastisement) and intended at some time to show mercy. And this was because instead of His anger being kindled, it was His compassionate heart that was being kindled to show compassion to His people. But it was a compassion that could only be revealed once Israel had learned its lesson. He could not just overlook what they had done. It was just that because of His very nature as God and not man, and as the Holy and unique One, His judgment was not to be seen as absolutely final.

This cry from the heart of God reveals God's continual quandary. He longs to show mercy and forgive, but He cannot do so unless it is accompanied by men repenting and turning from their sin. The love of God does not exclude the judgment of God, for God is also ‘Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all' (1 John 1:5). Those who would experience His love must first come to His light. God cannot lower His standards however great His love.