Year 9, Day 203: Hosea 1

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Hosea is such a bleak book, especially after reading through the Gospels.  Don’t take that as judgment, however.  The Gospels tell the most awesome story in the Bible.  Hosea tells the story that it was necessary to tell at that time.  It might not be as much fun to read, but to neglect the point of Hosea only weakens us.

The point of chapter one is that the northern nation of Israel has broken their relationship with God.  It could be said that it is irrevocably broken because God tells them, “I am not your God.”  That’s not quite right, though, because we know that God will forgive and those few who are repentant in exile will return under the Persians.  For the time being, though, God is preparing to send them into exile.  God says as much; He also has Hosea say it symbolically through his marriage to a prostitute.

Look at the names of the children that are produced through the marriage of Hosea and Gomer the prostitute.  First comes Jezreel.  This is a reminder of where it went bad for the Hebrew people.  It is also a reminder of where God will show His power to them.

The second child is called no mercy.  This is a message about how God will deliver His wrath.  God will give no quarter.  The kingdom of Israel will go into exile in an especially brutal manner.  The people have abandoned God, God intends to show them what life is like when people abandon God and His protection.  They had everything which they threw away to chase after the desires of their own hearts.

Finally, the third child is called Not My People.  That’s a beak name to be sure.  God has sent a clear message.  The people can expect no help from God.  The people have prostituted themselves out to other gods.  Because of this, they are no longer God’s people, they will receive no mercy, and they will experience judgment in their own land. 

The story is bleak to be sure.  The story is always bleak when we abandon God.  When we chase after our own desires and convince God that He is no longer important to us, we can expect nothing better.

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