Text: Hosea 1:1-11
Hosea’s life is complicated! (vv.1-2). Not only is his country divided, but so is his own family. The life of a prophet is strange and painful; but Hosea’s life is particularly so. Israel is at the time of his writing, divided North and South.
Judah in the South on occasion will have a Godly king; but in the North, Israel, there is no king who fears Yahweh. Hosea is the beginning of a long line of prophets whom God sends to warn, to encourage, and to announce judgement.
Northern Israel is mixing their idolatrous religion with that of the One true
God, and the result is that He is truly offended. Hosea’s own family is a true to life picture of what God thinks of His relationship with Israel: a faithful husband who is married to a prostitute. Crazy as it may seem, this is God’s command and Hosea is faithful to obey. The Prophets life is a living drama of the terrible spiritual state of the country.
Hosea’s children are named after the cultural chaos that idolatry brings:
‘Jezreel’, ‘No Mercy’, and ‘Not My People’. These are terrible messages that
state since God’s people have broken the covenant, they would no longer be
considered His special people. The result is destruction and death. But that is not the end of the story! Hosea’s message is also one of hope, for in the future God’s people would be beyond counting (v.10). We see this verse being used again in Romans 9:26, where it shows that, indeed, this verse has been fulfilled via the calling of the Gentiles.
Christians are frustrated when they see lawlessness and corruption of both
faith and morals in their country. They worry deeply about the consequences; “Will God destroy us for our unfaithfulness?” Hosea is reminding us that there are indeed consequences; but He will never fail to build His church! We should be warning others of the consequences of sin, and also of the healing power of God to change lives and bring repentance. Pray that you would be an agent of change in your country!
Meditate on verse 10. What is God teaching you in this verse? How are you
going to respond to it?
Ever loving Father in heaven, thank You for I am called a child of the Living God.
I prayerfully thank You for preserving my salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ I have prayed. Amen.