הושע, פרק י״א, פסוק א׳

The bond between God and the Israelites is rooted in a deep, fatherly love that began at the very dawn of their history. During the early days of the nation, they were like a young child, vulnerable and enslaved in Egypt [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While this early stage primarily describes the young nation, it also traces back to the patriarch Jacob, who was chosen and loved by God [אברבנאל].

This early love was intense and unconditional. Like a father calling out for his son, God reached out to the Israelites even when they made no effort to call out to Him first [מלבי״ם]. Because of this historic bond and their rescue from enemies, God holds the Israelites to a higher standard than other nations. When they do wrong, He disciplines them. However, these hardships are not born of anger, but of love, mirroring a father who corrects and guides his child [אבן עזרא, רד״ק].

The act of calling the nation out of Egypt carries multiple, complementary layers of meaning. On a direct level, the call was the physical redemption itself. God brought them out of slavery specifically so they could come to Him and serve Him [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. This was made clear to Pharaoh when God publicly claimed the Israelites as His firstborn son and demanded their freedom [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. The time in Egypt marked the exact moment God first used the affectionate title of a son for the nation [רד״ק].

Beyond the physical rescue, this call sparked an ongoing educational journey. From the moment they left Egypt, God continuously sent His prophets to call out to the people, urging them over and over to return to Him and hold fast to His teachings [רש״י, מצודת דוד].