Hosea: His Redeeming LoveSmakprov

By the middle of the eighth century BC, Israel had been torn into two kingdoms—Israel and Judah. The prophet Amos was sent to minister to the southern kingdom of Judah, and the prophet Hosea was sent to the northern kingdom of Israel. At the time, Israel was experiencing peace and prosperity, but as we discover in Hosea, all was not right with God’s chosen people. They had abandoned God in favor of idols, so God sent Hosea to warn his people and woo them back to him. Uniquely, God did more than send messages for Hosea to deliver to Israel; he actually commanded the prophet to live out a demonstration for the nation. Hosea would not just preach God’s message, he would have to experience it within his own family. He would know the pain and heartache of loving but receiving no love in return. As we begin the story in verse two, God has told Hosea to marry a prostitute, “for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” Hosea obeys and marries Gomer, and we see in the names that God commands them to give their children just how upset he has become at his chosen people. The promise he made to Moses that we read in Exodus 6:7 is in danger of being broken. God’s chosen people are no longer loved. They are no longer his. He is no longer their God. Before the happy ending that will come thousands of years in the future, things between God and his people will get much, much worse. But fortunately for the people of Israel and for us, this is not the end of the story. And there are important lessons we can learn along the way. Pray: Heavenly Father, I know that like the Israelite people, I am tempted to flirt with sin or substitute someone or something else for you. As you sent the prophet Hosea, send me a warning when I have strayed from you. Show me where in my life I have turned from your goodness and rejected your promises.