Reading: Hosea 1-6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame (Hos. 4:6-7).
These verses make the reason for Israel’s defeat unmistakably clear. God had chosen Israel to be His nation and had showered His love and blessings upon her, but she had turned away from Him to other gods. Her citizens had put His Word and His Law out of their minds and neglected to teach them to their children. As a result, the children strayed and became unfaithful to God. In the end, a simple lack of knowledge brought this once great nation to her knees. They no longer remembered the glory and the holiness of the One True God, and their very foundation crumbled.
Hosea was a prophet of the Lord sent to ‘refresh the memory’ of Israel. The Lord sent many prophets during this time of forgetfulness, but Hosea stands out from the rest in one significant way. God commanded Hosea to take for his wife a known adulteress. The Lord told Hosea ahead of time that she would be unfaithful to him, but He commanded him to love her anyway. Over time, all that the Lord had foretold regarding his wife came true. Hosea was heartbroken, but he still loved her, and finally, he redeemed her and brought her back into the love and protection of his household.
The Lord's relationship with Israel formed over centuries, and the patterns were so spread out that they were often hard to detect. Hosea's marriage to Gomer played out in real-time, where everyone could plainly see. Hosea, who remained faithful to his wife through it all, represented God, and his wife represented Israel, the Lord's faithless bride. Hosea underwent years of pain and uncertainty as His wife refused to commit. Through the births of three children (whose parentage was quite likely uncertain), Hosea loved and supported his wife. This mirrored the centuries that the Lord had stood by Israel, loving and protecting her, trying to guide her away from the pagan idols and back into His will. At her lowest point, Gomer left her husband to live with another man. This illustrates the complete break that Israel had made from the One True God. Ultimately, Hosea buys back his wife, and after a long period of chaste re-introduction and faithfulness, he restores her to her rightful place in his home. By doing so, Hosea demonstrates the Lord's unfailing love for His people. Through Hosea, God affirmed that He would never forsake Israel, no matter how terrible her actions were. Although her behavior might bring about severe consequences, He would always be willing to redeem her and bring her home.
Today, we, as citizens of the world, stand on the same perilous ledge as Israel did so long ago. As we accept watered-down versions of God's message, we are in danger of forgetting his Living Word. Only one Guidebook is provided for us to get the most out of our brief lives on earth. We call it the Bible, and it contains everything that we need to know to live the fullest life possible. Without it, we are lost and will be destroyed for lack of knowledge.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope(Rom. 15:4).
Thought For Today:God will never leave or forsake us; our relationship with God should focus on how not to forsake Him.
Christ Revealed: Through Hosea’s love for his unworthy, sinful wife (Hos. 3:1-5). Our Lord Jesus not only loved us while we were yet sinners, but He also died the death of shame for us on Calvary so that all He possessed might become ours (Rom. 5:8; 8:32; II Pet. 1:3-4). I will betroth thee unto Me for ever (Hos. 2:19).
Word Studies:2:3 (first) set = expose; (second) set = leave; 3:4 ephod = sleeveless priestly outer garment; 4:16 slideth back = stubborn, obstinate. Israel has committed whoredom and sacrifice to idols.
Pray For Staff: Kevin Jennings • Government Officials: Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX), Sen. Tim Scott (SC) • Country: Cambodia (15,458,332) Southeast Asia • Major Language: Khmer • Restricted Religious Freedom • 96.9% Buddhist; 1.9% Muslim; .0.4% Christian; 0.8% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord; our God is the Mighty God (Ps. 50:1).