Hosea 1: 2-10
When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.” So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them–not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the Lord their God.”
After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are my people, and I am your God.
“Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’
A Thought
Names in the Old Testament usually had symbolic meaning; Hosea means salvation. God directs Hosea to marry an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness. God illustrates Israel’s unfaithfulness to him in the same manner Gomar was unfaithful to Hosea. With each birth of their children, God sends a message about Israel. First, God will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. Secondly, God will no longer show love to Israel, but will show his love to Judah. Thirdly, Israel will return to God and they will be his people. God directs us to serve him only. If we serve ourselves, power, possessions, money, work, or anything else above God, we are guilty of adultery against God.
Our Prayer
Father help us to be faithful to your message of the cross that our relationship may be restored with you. Awaken us. Help us to give your gift of repentance of sins through your love and mercy to others by the power of your Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit, come. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
