Question: In the Q&A of August re Mart De Haan, you said that God never called Israel [1] His Son. But in Exodus:4:22-23 [22] And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: [23] And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
See All... [2], God calls Israel [1] "my son, even my firstborn." In Jeremiah:31:9They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
See All... [3], Ephraim is called God's "firstborn," but in Joshua:17:1There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
See All... [4], Manasseh is the firstborn. Romans:8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
See All... [5] calls Jesus the firstborn. How many "firstborns" of God are there?

Response: What I said was true, but I wasn't precise enough. Mart De Haan was right that historically Hosea:11:1When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
See All... [6] was about Israel [1] being delivered from Egypt, but he denied Matthew's prophetic application. A major reason for God's calling Israel [1] His son and firstborn was to foretell Christ's coming out of Egypt as a child. My objection was Mart's claim that Matthew was wrong.

Yes, God calls Israel [1] "my son" (Ex 4:22,23) two or three times. However, the term "Son of God" is found 45 times in the Bible and always refers to Christ. Although called the "firstborn," never is Israel [1] "the only begotten Son of God."

What is said of Christ could not be said of Israel [1]. Matthew, inspired of the Holy Spirit, wasn't wrong!

Manasseh was the firstborn of Joseph, but Jacob bestowed the blessing and rank of the firstborn upon Ephraim (Gn 48:12-20). Jesus is "the firstborn of every creature" (Col:1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
See All... [7]) by rank; and He is "the firstborn from the dead" (Col:1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
See All... [8])--the first one resurrected never to die again.