Read Hosea 1 – 6
Highlights:
God's faithfuless/people's unfaithfulness. Who wins (1:2)? God's wrath (2:2), redemption (2:14). Sinful nation (chap. 4). God withdraws (chap. 5). Repent (chap. 6)!
The beginning of the Word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD (Hos. 1:2).
The things said in this verse make Hosea one of the more controversial books in the Bible. There are even some scholars who try to purely spiritualize this event, but the truth of the Word of God is the truth, pure and simple. Is its message always easy to accept? No, it is not. However, just because it is not easy to accept or understand does not mean we can change it. As a matter of fact, the Word of God warns us of that very thing. And if any man shall take away from the Words of the Book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book (Rev. 22:19).
Now that we have determined that God's Word says exactly what it says, let us look at what happened here and why. The Lord had called Hosea to be a prophet to the nation of Israel. Unlike the other half of the divided kingdom, Judah, which at times had kings who followed the Lord, all of Israel's kings were evil. Hosea's ministry lasted about forty years.
As stated above, Hosea Chapter 1 Verse 2 has been a springboard for much discussion. In this verse, the Lord instructs the prophet Hosea to find a woman who is a prostitute and marry her. Many find it hard to believe that God would instruct anyone, let alone a prophet of the Lord, to marry a prostitute, yet this is exactly what He commanded Hosea to do.
The Lord has a reason for everything He does. He also has a message for us in every single book, chapter, verse and word found in the Word of God. There is no wasted space found anywhere in the pages of God's Word.
God was saying something much bigger than what it seems with the marriage of Hosea to the prostitute Gomer. The Lord was making a statement to Israel about who and what she had become. This marriage exposed the sins of the nation of Israel. She had herself committed adultery, but of a spiritual nature. Israel had chased after other gods as a prostitute would chase her next client. And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake Me, and break My covenant which I have made with them (Deut. 31:16).
Even though Israel had committed this grievous sin, God still loved His people. He still wanted to give them a way back to Him. The Lord knew that as the sin of the nation became revealed many would desire to repent and turn back to Him.
We all go astray at times. We chose another way besides Jesus because it looks easier. Then, as we start walking that way, we realize that life is harder without God than with Him. Thanks be to Him that, in His loving mercy, He sticks with us and has clearly marked the path we need to take for forgiveness (see 1 John 1:9).
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion (Jer. 3:14).
Thought for Today:
The Lord says to lay up treasure in heaven. How well have you prepared?
Christ Revealed:
Through Hosea's love for his unworthy, sinful wife (Hos. 3:1-5). Our Lord Jesus not only loved us while we were yet sinners, but He also died the death of shame for us on Calvary so that all He possessed might become ours (Rom. 5:8; 8:32; 2 Pet. 1:3-4). I will betroth thee unto Me for ever (Hos. 2:19).
Word Study:
2:3 (first) set, expose; (second) set, leave; 3:4 ephod, sleeveless priestly outer garment; 4:16 slideth back, is stubborn, obstinate. Israel has committed whoredom and sacrificed to idols.
Prayer Suggestion: Call upon the Lord in adversity, for He will hear (Ps. 116:1-4,8).
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 145:10