Hosea prophesied during a very dark period in Israel’s history. To show to Hosea and the people how far they had fallen from Him, He had the prophet take a harlot as a wife. The reason? “For the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord” (Hosea 1:2).
Hosea married the harlot Gomer, and she conceived and bore him children. The name of each child was given by God, as a means of emphasizing the broken relationship between God and His people. Hosea’s first son was named Jezreel, “for in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel” (1:4). His first daughter was named Lo-Ruhamah, “for I will no longer have mercy on Israel, but I will utterly take them away” (1:6). Hosea’s second son was named Lo-Ammi, “for you are not My people, and I will not be your God” (1:9).
These harsh words were proclaimed because of the unfaithfulness of Israel. She had been unfaithful to God, and pursued other gods to worship. She was guilty of idolatry.
This separation from the Almighty was not a permanent rift. God’s purpose in judgment was to punish, but also to motivate the people to repent. God made the promise, “Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God’” (2:23).
The Lord knew the end of His chastisement would be renewed zeal for Him. He told Hosea, “Afterward (after His judgment upon the land) the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days” (3:5). These words reveal God’s purpose in the judgments He renders. Hebrews 12 also does a good job of describing why God chastises His children. Consider these words, as he compares the actions of earthly fathers to God. “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness” (Hebrews 12:6).
Focus on the phrase “partakers of His holiness.” Paul recognized that men, without God’s revelation, can’t know what true holiness, or righteousness is. In his day, Israel was in a similar state to that found in the days of Hosea. Consider Paul’s words, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3).
This is why it is so important to follow God’s commands. He has established a pattern for us to adopt. This pattern includes instructions for worship, service and morality. Every aspect of our day to day lives is informed by God’s revelation of His righteousness. Like Israel, we ignore such instructions at our own peril.
God has created us to worship and serve Him, and to do so in accord with His revealed will. There is great danger in disregarding His directives. Spiritual anarchy leads to dissolution, not edification.
The prediction of Israel’s return after God’s chastisement was realized for a remnant. The sad truth is that such punishment was not necessary. There would have been no need to return to God if they had never left Him. May we all learn this important lesson, and remain diligent in our faithfulness!
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