因我是神、並非世人（何11章）

以法蓮哪、我怎能捨棄你、以色列阿、我怎能棄絕你、我怎能使你如押瑪、怎能使你如洗扁、我回心轉意、我的憐愛大大發動。我必不發猛烈的怒氣、也不再毀滅以法蓮、因我是神、並非世人、是你們中間的聖者、我必不在怒中臨到你們。（何 11：8-9）

本章的寫作時代背景，約在北朝以色列國最後一個王「何細亞」的時候。當時亞述國剛剛成型，雖剛建國不久，卻展現兇殘、蠻橫的特質，令鄰國懼怕。當時的何細亞身為王，不是轉身悔改依靠神，卻想要找埃及國聯盟。因此神說：

他們必不歸回埃及地，亞述人卻要作他們的王，因他們不肯歸向我。刀劍必臨到他們的城邑，毀壞門閂，把人吞滅，都因他們隨從自己的計謀。（何 11：5-6）

這裡神說出他的刑罰：埃及必幫不了你，而且最後會被亞述滅國。會導致這個悲劇，是因為：「因他們不肯歸向我」、「都因他們隨從自己的計謀」。

今天我們讀此段經文，當自我省察：我們依靠的是誰？是自己的聰明、才智、學經歷？有的人是崇尚金錢、權勢，有的沈迷在AI，不求問神，只求問網路，不惜花錢購買AI各種產品。靠聰明，就是「隨從自己的計謀」；靠人不靠神，就是「不肯歸向我」。

但是神在宣布刑罰時，卻像一般人一樣猶豫了，因為，所要刑罰的，是自己所深愛的孩子啊：「以法蓮哪、我怎能捨棄你？以色列阿、我怎能棄絕你？」這就好像做父母的，對總是被悖逆不聽話的孩子激怒，終於一次爆發，脫口而說：「走吧！當我沒生你這樣的孩子，我不要了！」然後，做父母的心中突然心頭一酸、糾成一團，心想：「我怎麼會說出這樣的話呢？」

「我怎能使你如押瑪、怎能使你如洗扁」：「押瑪、洗扁」是隨著所多瑪、蛾摩拉城，被從天而降的硫磺火，一起毀滅的兩座城。感覺做父母的心開始為孩子找藉口：「都是因為我孩子交到壞朋友，被連累的，他們本來都很乖的啊！」。

「我回心轉意、我的憐愛大大發動。」：這是天父真神，祂那本為愛、慈愛永遠長存的本質，再也包藏不住，祂的愛即將迸裂、釋放出來，像大水不能淹沒、眾水所不能熄滅的烈火！

不認識神的人，只會覺得本章詞句優美感人，卻不知所以然。神自己說明：「因我是神，並非世人」。神與世人的差別在何處？世人可以「愛之欲其生、恨之欲其死」，重點是，世人只要進入了恨，將永不改變、恨之入骨！特別到了末世，「不解怨」就是永遠都不願意原諒人的表現，將成為世人的常態。

但是神就不一樣了，祂總是從正面表述看人，祂願意等候人的回轉，期待人的轉變。

想起有一首基督徒詩歌《你為何揀選我》，其中第一句歌詞，總是讓我泣不成聲...

「主！祢為何從萬人中揀選我做你兒女？祢知我過犯-那麼多.......」

這就是神，並非世人，祂永遠愛你！今日對於這樣因我們過犯，會因愛陷入自相矛盾的神，真心愛我的神，而我卻常違背祂的原則、惹動祂的怒氣，想一想：我們怎麼忍得下心？我們應當時時體會主的心腸，不要任意消磨神的恩、神的愛，認為可以恣意濫用揮霍，總是做神不喜悅的事。

我們可以把主題經文的「以法蓮、以色列」，用自己的名字替代，念念看吧！多念幾次，看看主的心腸，能不能在我們心中，漸漸浮現！

我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活着的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活着。並且我如今在肉身活着，是因信神的兒子而活。他是愛我、為我捨己。（加 2：20）

By Isaiah Kao

For I Am God and Not Man (Hosea 11)

November 2, 2026

“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled. I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.” (Hos. 11:8–9, NASB 2020)

The historical background of this chapter dates back to the time of "Hoshea", the last king of the northern kingdom of Israel. At that time, Assyria had just arised as a nation. Although it had not been established for long, it already displayed cruelty and arrogance, causing fear among its neighboring nations. As king, Hoshea did not turn back in repentance and rely on God. Instead, he sought to form an alliance with Egypt. Therefore, God said:

“They will not return to the land of Egypt; but Assyria—he will be their king because they refused to return to Me. The sword will whirl against their cities, and will demolish their gate bars and consume them because of their counsels.” (Hos. 11:5–6, NASB 2020)

Here, God declared His punishment: Egypt would not be able to help them, and eventually, they would be destroyed by Assyria. The tragedy would happen because “they refused to return to Me” and “because of their counsels.”

As we read this passage today, we should examine ourselves: Whom do we rely on? Is it our own intelligence, abilities, education, and experience? Some people worship money and power; others are deeply immersed in AI. Instead of seeking God, they turn to the internet for answers and are even willing to spend money on various AI products. Relying on our own intelligence means “following our own counsels.” Relying on people rather than God means “refusing to return to Me.”

Yet, when God announced His punishment, He seemed to hesitate, just as an ordinary person might. Why? Because those He was about to punish were His own beloved children!

“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel?” This is like a parent who becomes furious with a rebellious and disobedient child. Finally, in a moment of anger, the parent blurts out, “Go away! Pretend I never had a child like you! I don't want you anymore!” But suddenly, the parent's heart aches and tightens with sorrow. The parent thinks, “How could I have said such a thing?”

“How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim?”

Admah and Zeboiim were two cities destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone that came down from heaven. We can almost imagine the parent beginning to make excuses for the child: “It's all because my child fell in with bad friends and got dragged into trouble. My child was actually well-behaved before!”

“My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled.” This reveals the true nature of our Heavenly Father, the true God. His very nature is love, and His lovingkindness endures forever. He can no longer hold back His love. It is about to burst forth and be released, like a blazing fire that neither great waters can extinguish nor floods can drown!

Those who do not know God may find the words in this chapter beautiful and touching, yet fail to understand their true meaning. God Himself explains: “For I am God and not man.” What is the difference between God and mankind? People may "love someone so much that they wish for that person's happiness, or hate someone so deeply that they wish for that person's death". The point is that once people fall into hatred, they may never change. Their hatred can become deeply rooted and unforgiving.

Especially in the last days, being “unforgiving” will become a common characteristic of people, as they are no longer willing to reconcile or forgive others.

But God is different. He always sees people from a positive perspective. He is willing to wait for people to turn back and looks forward to seeing them change.

I am reminded of a Christian hymn, “Why Did You Choose Me?”. The very first line of its lyrics always moves me to tears:

“Lord! Why did You choose me from among so many people to be Your child? You know how many sins I have committed...”

This is God, who is not like man. He loves you forever!

Today, when we think of this God, who loves us so deeply that our sins cause Him fall into self-contradictory, we must remember that He truly loves me. Yet I often disobey His principles and provoke His anger. How can we bear to treat Him this way?

We should constantly seek to understand the heart of the Lord. We must not take God's grace and love for granted, thinking that we can misuse and spend freely them at will while continuing to do things that displease Him.

We can replace the words “Ephraim” and “Israel” in the main passage with our own names and read the verses! Read them several times and see whether the heart of the Lord gradually becomes clearer to us!

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao