October 31, 2007 Hosea 1:2

10/31/2007

Hosea 1:2 (HCSB)²When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, He said this to him:
     Go and marry a promiscuous wife
     and _ëhave_û children of promiscuity,
     for the whole land has been promiscuous
     by abandoning the LORD.

Although the book of Hosea is after Daniel in the Bible, the ministry of Hosea occurred many years before Daniel. In fact, Hosea’s ministry was after the northern and southern kingdoms had split and before the Babylonian rise to power. Hosea prophesied in the northern kingdom.

At the start of his ministry, God told Hosea to take a wife who was a known prostitute. This seems very odd and totally contrary to Judaic customs. But the fact is that many times, God would instruct prophets to act out their message with actions or props. Remember that Jeremiah wore a yoke publicly to prophesy the coming Babylonian oppression.

In this case, Hosea was to marry a wife that was known to be adulterous, and as we would learn, she was adulterous even after their marriage. God called Hosea to this as a means to demonstrate to Israel (the northern kingdom) how she had become adulterous with God.

Remember that God considers the Jews as his Bride. Many times in the ministry of Hosea, God demonstrated His patience and love for Israel by instructing Hosea to reclaim his wife from her adulterous states. Likewise, God wanted to reclaim Israel to her rightful position.

What we gain from this is the fact that God loves us so much that He will not cast us aside when we fall. Of course, in light of this love, we should endeavor to be as faithful as possible, but He loves us beyond our failings.

Can we live up to such faithfulness?

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