Hosea

Growing up, this is what I thought of the Bible: The New Testament is good because that’s where Jesus is (except for Revelation, that’s the apocalypse); The Old Testament has some cool stories but isn’t relevant because it doesn’t talk about Jesus, and it’s very “doom & gloom.” This is not what I was taught about the Bible, these were conclusions I came to on my own. When I got to college, I learned (and am still learning) that the entire Bible talks about Jesus, is relevant, and reveals things about the character of God that should only make us fall deeper in love with Him.

The book of Hosea is full of metaphors and imagery. If you know a little about Bible history, you know that the nation of Isreal went through cycles of faithfulness and disobedience to God. Hosea depicts a time when Isreal had turned away from God in spiritual adultery by worshipping idols. I knew when I began studying the book of Hosea that it wasn’t the most joyful of scriptures. I was not prepared, however, for the Lord to teach me three things: (1) I am as guilty as the nation of Isreal. (2) We must grieve our own sin. (3) God’s affection is far greater than our ingratitude.

Guilt

It is easy to lean back and read about a nation from thousands of years ago that worshipped idols by means of drunkenness, gluttony, and prostitution and view them as being worse than any other sinner. I would never turn my back on the Lord the way the nation of Israel did. To do so would be unthinkable.

The harsh reality is that I am the unfaithful nation of Israel worshipping things of this world (Hosea). I am the disciple Judas who betrays Jesus because I struggle to believe his promises (John 13). I am Ananias who is filled with greed and lies to the Holy Spirit and should be struck dead just the same (Acts 5). I am also the father whose son is in need of healing and cries out to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9). Despite the guilt of the Israelites, the Lord says this of them in the book of Hosea…

And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. Hosea 2:19-20

Grief

We are all guilty. If we were not guilty, there would have been no need for Jesus to die and be raised from the dead. When Jesus was crucified, He took on the weight of every sin. Not only did Jesus grieve over our sin, but he suffered an excruciating death under Pontius Pilot for it as well. The very least we could do when we are disobedient to our God, Father, and King is to grieve over the death that we have allowed to creep into our lives and draw us away from the Lord.

If we are not burdened by our sin and the sin of others, we should look at our lives and ask, “Have I given everything to Him? Have I realized my death and destruction and need for His grace?” As believers in Christ, when we allow sin to infiltrate what should belong to the Lord, we should be burdened to the point of the cross. We should be broken knowing that we are guilty and deserve death. The book of Hosea talks a lot about the punishment that the kingdom of Israel deserves. And yet, we see God’s grace and mercy in all things.

Gratitude

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because ithey have refused to return to me. The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels. My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.

How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.

They shall go after the LORD; the will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD. Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.

Hosea 11:1-12

In chapter 11 of Hosea, after the different images have been painted about how/why God could destroy Israel for their betrayal, we see the Father’s sadness at the disobedience of His children. It makes me think of my earthly father and the way he disciplined me as a child. He always made his disappointment in me clear but assured me that there is nothing I could do to make him love me less. In Hosea, is written the same message of hope for sinners. The Lord’s affection for his people is far greater than their ingratitude towards Him. His patience with us is demonstrated in his desire for us to follow him despite our shortcomings. We can never show enough gratitude for the way he loves us. That is why the Gospel is so mysterious and beautiful.