Hosea

I have been reading the book of Hosea in my devotions lately. It’s an interesting book, because it reads a bit like God’s internal monologue about whether or not to destroy or save Israel. In Hosea 11:9, God tells us that he will not carry out his fierce anger, but Israel was overrun by Assyria soon after this. It really begs the question: What does this mean? If Israel being exiled is not God’s fierce anger, what is? Did God just change his mind?

I don’t think the word ‘indecisive’ can be applied to God. He is all-knowing, and sovereign over all things, so I think we have to rule that out. God did not simply ‘change his mind’. I believe Hosea is an expression of both God’s love and his grief, written to bring the Israelites back to God.

An Expression of God’s Love

Let’s start with a bit of context. Hosea 1:1 tells us that it was written by Hosea, son of Beeri, during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel. Here’s a little timeline showing us where Hosea fits in the history of the Old Testament (you might need to zoom in a bit):

Hezekiah was king of Judah (aka the ‘Southern Kingdom) when Israel (the ‘Northern Kingdom’) was taken over by Assyria, so we know that the Lord was speaking through Hosea right before and up to Israel’s downfall. This is important, because it tells us that God had endured centuries of abuse from Israel already – the majority of their kings were evil, and led the people to worship false gods without repentance.  

Given the circumstances, Hosea is an amazing read. In chapter 2, the Lord describeshow he will punish Israel for their unfaithfulness. Soon after, though, we’re hit with these incredible verses (note – Israel is being personified as Hosea’s adulterous wife):

“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert And speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, And will make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, As in the day she came up out of Egypt. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; You will no longer call me ‘my master’. Hosea 2:14-16

The verses start off pretty ominous, being allured into the desert... then God speaks tenderly to her. This is just incredible. How can God feel so much love for a people who are so unfaithful? Not only does he treat Israel with tenderness, he promises to restore her – with earthly provision, with hope for the future, and a better relationship with the Lord.

I hope, as you read this, that you are encouraged. We learn in the New Testament that through Jesus, Christians are also included as God’s people. In Hosea, we learn just how much God loves his people. Israel have rejected God and worshipped foreign gods, walking in the way of wickedness, for centuries prior to this – and yet, his affection for them remains. Why? Because he is God, not a man (11:9). So, when you’re feeling far from him, remember that you can always return. Remember that those pangs of sorrow might just be God alluring you into the desert so that he can speak tenderly to you. He longs for us and does not want to give us up.

An Expression of God’s Grief

You might be asking, “Well if this is true, then why does he send Israel into exile?” This isa hard question to think about. We don’t want to think of God doing anything to hurt his people. However, Hosea makes two things clear: 1) God was deeply grieved about Israel’s sin and exile, and 2) God is an excellent judge.  

Chapter 11 details how God lovingly raised and cared for Israel, but “...the more I called Israel, the further they went from me.” (11:2) The picture is one of rejected parental affection:

“It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realise it was I who healed them.” (11:3)

Who among you has felt the pain of a child’s rejection? We see the depth of God’s grief as he witnesses Israel’s depravity in verse 8:

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. (11:8)

Admah and Zeboyim were part of Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities totally destroyed by the Lord when he saw how evil they were. In verse 8, we can see God’s agony over what he has to do about Israel’s sin. Israel were consistently unfaithful, refusing to turn from their sin and acknowledge God. Hosea is only one of many prophets sent to remind and encourage them. A phrase that is repeated throughout Hosea is, “Return to your God”.

I have a little brother who seemed to have no fear when he was younger. He would take risks (admittedly, often egged on by his older siblings...) that other children wouldn’t take. One day, he wanted to touch the metal chimney flue in the living room whilst the fire was roaring. He was told not to, and he disobeyed. What do you think happened? Many of you are parents. If your child is refusing to obey you and continuing to do the wrong thing, what do you do? You discipline them, so that they might learn to listen and, as a result, live better. To leave their disobedience unchecked leads to their destruction, as evidenced by the skin of my brother’s palm that all painfully peeled off, and the imprint of his hand that remained on our chimney flue for years to come.

God is the ideal parent. He loves deeper than we ever could, he is more patient and merciful than us, and he never judges incorrectly. At the end of the day, even though he had granted them mercy and shown them affection over and over, Israel had not listened. In order for Israel to return to him, they needed to face punishment for their disobedience.

There’s a couple of bits of good news in the midst of Israel’s exile. Firstly, even though they were sent into exile, God did not totally destroy Israel like he did Sodom and Gomorrah. A faithful remnant were recovered, as we see in other books of the Bible. Secondly, this warning for Israel has also been written down for us. I know from personal experience that I often forget God. I am sure that I am not the only one. I know that rebelling against God leads to destruction, but I still do. How wonderful that the God we serve longs for our worship and has given us his Word to remind us that we can always turn back to him. How wonderful that he disciplines us to prompt us to turn back to him.

A Final Note

Whilst Hosea is a book written to and for God’s people as they/we examine their/ourown actions, I hope you will not forget that God’s judgement remains on those who do not turn to him. This means that all of your unbelieving co-workers, friends, and family will stand before God one day. Let’s make sure that we tell them about him! Tell them of what a wonder it is to serve a God so merciful and good, to be a child of the perfect parent. Tell them of the depth of his affection for us and how he longs to be with us. Tell them of how he chooses to marry a prostitute and lavish forgiveness on her over and over again, despite her consistent unfaithfulness. That he speaks tenderly to her. Hosea finishes with these words:

“Who is wise? He will realise these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” (14:9)

Let us be the wise and discerning righteous who walk in the ways of the Lord. Amen.