Minor Prophets XVI: History Fulfilled Not Fabricated

“But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and will be forced to serve Assyria. War will swirl through their cities; their enemies will crash through their gates. They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans. For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me." Hosea 11:5-7

God historically fulfilled the warnings of Hosea 11:5-7 with real people and real events that are documented in the Bible and outside of it. For those that say this stuff is myth or it didn't really happen, archeology proves for a fact many of these people not only existed but these events came to pass...exactly as the Bible has described and said they would. It isn't like I doubted it but others do and will continue to. Some folks like wallowing in their self-imposed ignorance. Where they cannot ignore something that is clearly outlined in the Bible and shown unequivocally to be true...they will distort or exaggerate the truth just enough to make the truth look absurd. Do your homework correctly and you will find that archaeological evidences have never refuted or contradicted Biblical accounts. If there haven't been archaeological proofs its only because they have not been uncovered yet and remain hidden because of the passage of time. When and if they are found and correctly interpreted, they will corroborate the Bible. I personally guarantee it :).

God’s fatherly and patient loving-kindness is rejected and this will be their reward. They will need to relearn the lessons of their youth in Egypt. Instead of Egypt being Egypt this time “Egypt” will be Assyria who is a brutal regime. Like a sword, they will descend on Israel and crush them. The awful reality of what was coming is spelled out in Israel’s collective memory by mentioning Egypt. In verse 7’s “Even though they call me God Most High…” we see something similar to what Jesus mentions in Matthew 15:8 when we hear Jesus say, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”In a purely secular historical setting Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V, Sargon II and Sennacherib all played into the demise of the Northern Kingdom. Sennacherib actually managed to infiltrate Judah and it is only because God intervening that they were spared (McComiskey 188-189).

Longman, Tremper, and David E. Garland. "A Beloved Child." The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Daniel-Malachi . Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2008. 283-287. Print.

McComiskey, Thomas Edward. "Yahweh’s Love For Israel." The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical And Expository Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2009. 188-189. Print.