The Book of Hosea is filled with symbolism
about our relationship with God. Ultimately, it is a book of
undeserved redemption, written roughly 750 years before the birth of
Christ. The nation of Israel was split into the northern (Called
Israel) and southern (Called Judah) nations, each with separate
kings. Hosea chapter 1 reminds me of the expression, “Can
a leopard change its spots?
(Jeremiah 13:23)”. Too often repeat offenders, repeat again,
leaving a trail of disappointments. To my observation, people do not
change unless God changes them from the inside. The chapter begins,
“The word of the Lord that came
to Hosea“. The kings of both
Judah and Israel are mentioned, setting the timeline. Israel had
fallen far from following God’s Word, and Judah was following the
same path. Hosea the prophet is instructed to “Go,
marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her“.
Here is the important part of the lesson; God does not promise He
will make her faithful. Instead, He says she is a picture of the
Nation, “for like an adulterous
wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord“.
In my own life, I understood that it was time for me to find a wife
shortly after I received salvation. I believe the verse about not
being unequally yoked with an unbeliever applied to my choice of a
spouse. My only uncompromising standard was that she must also
born-again. What a comfort it is, knowing her faithfulness to Christ
guides her faithfulness to me.
Hosea apparently does not hesitate, because
the next verse says, “So he
married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a
son“. My wife and I discussed
and debated the names of our children, believing they should have
significance. God gave Hosea the names for his children, but again,
they were part of the lesson to an unfaithful nation. The first born
was named “Jezreel“.
Like the name “Auschwitz”
in Germany, this was a place
of shame for the nation.
We are told that God will
“break Israel’s bow in the
Valley of Jezreel“.
The chapter continues, “Gomer
conceived again and gave birth to a daughter… Call her Lo-Ruhamah“,
with means, “Not Loved”, “for
I will no longer show love to Israel… Yet I will
show love to Judah“.
Finally we read, “Gomer had
another son… Call him Lo-Ammi…
which means ‘not My people’“.
God explains the sad reality, “for
you are not My people, and I am not your God“.
It seems inconceivable that God would reject the nation of promise;
however, the nation had already rejected Him, and no longer honored
Him as God. But the chapter ends with a promise of future
restoration, “Yet
the Israelites will be like the
sand on the seashore… they will be called ‘children of the living
God… The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come
together“. I believe Jesus
gave instruction to His followers about our choice for a spouse, a
teacher, or a leader. “Watch
out… They come to you in sheep’s clothing… By their fruit you
will recognize them… every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad
tree bears bad fruit”
(Matthew7:15-18). In other words, do not just listen to their words,
but look for evidence in what they produce. Friend, have you been
making bad choices? Maybe it is time to look at the fruit in your
own life? True change happens from the inside-out and others will
spot it!