Scripture Reading(s)
Hosea 1:2-10
1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.”
1:3 So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
1:4 And the LORD said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
1:5 On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
1:6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. Then the LORD said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel or forgive them.
1:7 But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen.”
1:8 When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son.
1:9 Then the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God.”
1:10 Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered; and in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”
Reflections
Dabbling in sin and turning away from God always results in grave consequences. The nation of Israel had once again chosen sin over their love for God. The land had become filled with a people who no longer worshiped and sought after God.
The sad part about this passage is that the nation had been exposed to all of who God is and His undying love for them. They had experienced His steadfast love and Grace in their lives. They knew what it mean to be blessed by the almighty and powerful God. Yet, sins grasp got a strong foothold on them and they once again fell into the temptation to choose the world.
Like the nation of Israel, we too are prone to fall into sin even though we have also experienced God’s saving Grace in our lives. The battle to maintain our love for God and not give into the worlds temptation is something we have to face every single day. God in His Grace has provided us ways to seek Him and fight off against sin and the temptation to fall away from Him. One of those ways is found by taking the time to read God’s word.
The main tool we have to keep strong in our walk with God is to remind ourselves daily of the ultimate sacrifice Christ paid in our place. His death on the cross serves as a reminder to say no to sin and live a life that honors and pleases God.
Judgement awaits those who turn away from God. Grace awaits those who choose to seek after him.
Then the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God.”
The story of Hosea recounts the words of the Lord at a time when the Nation of Israel was living in great opposition to the Lord. The united kingdom was already divided and the northern kingdom (Israel) had lost the favor of God. Because of their continued and willful rebellion God declares that they would no longer be His children, which harkens back to the original covenant in Exodus 6:7.
“I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.”
God was revoking His covenant based on Israel’s refusal to abide by their end of the covenant. But even Israel was not completely lost. God also says that eventually they would be called His children once again.
and in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”
[Featured image from reachinghigherwithmeyer.blogspot.com]