So, I continued my study of the chronological study plan through the Bible and was reading the book of Hosea. Read the first seven chapters and really got to appreciate God's love towards his children and his desire to see us return to him even when we stray. At this time, the Israel is so into Idol worship and have strayed from following the laws of God. God speaks to the prophet Hosea and gives him prophetic instructions that describe the condition of his relationship with his people and his judgment towards them. I picked a few things reading this few chapters and I will love to share them with you.
1, Obedience
I talked about God giving Hosea prophetic instructions and that involved marrying a prostitute and having children with her. God used this to portray his people as harlots who went after other Gods. What struck me most was the obedience of Hosea. Taking a harlot for a wife is no easy thing to do. There are few people that will actually obey and do what he did but he obeyed God and did as instructed. Even his children were given names that described prophetic judgments on Israel. His daughter was named ***Lo-Ruhamah *** which means "no mercy" and one of his sons Lo-Ammi which means "Not my people".
2, God's love
Despite God judging his people and making it known to the that he will no longer have mercy and declared them not his people anymore, he still had plans to save them in the future.
What an amazing love I thought to myself. The kind of love that will just not let go no matter what.
That scripture reads:
[1] Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’
And to your sisters, ‘Mercy is shown.’ [Hosea 2:1 NKJV]
Despite everything, his love for us never fades, unwavering and unending. When you look at it, he has every right to punish us and abandon us in our iniquities. We continually disobey him even when all his warnings are a protective covering for us. He knows what will happen if we go a specific way and the consequences that follow. Knowing this, he tries to protect us like any loving parent will try to protect their child from any harm but we just don't listen. And guess who gets the blame when the consequences of our disobedience comes knocking? God. Some immediately start asking why a good God will let this happen?
As if he did not do everything to warn us.
3, Idolatry is Harlotry
God regards idolatry as harlotry. He sees his people as his bride, wife, spouse. And every time they go after other Gods, it is adultery and harlotry in his eyes. I know when we say other gods, most people nowadays will immediately think on wooded images and other strange entities and stuff like that but there are many gods in our lives in these modern times. A god can be seen as anything that takes the place of god in your life. Money has become a god to some people, career, fame, wealth, women, drugs etc have become gods in our lives and many don't realize it. We have become harlots and we don't even know it. May God help us.
Finally, as always God is still willing to pick the pieces of what is left and mend it. He still wants to make things work. He still wants us to be his wife despite all our shortcomings.
All he needs is true repentance.
[1] Come, and let us return to the LORD;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up. [2] After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight. [Hosea 6:1-2 NKJV]
LET US PRAY
Father, I thank you for these words. Thank you for your love and mercies that are new every morning. Thank you for loving me despite my wrongs. Lord forgive me in every way I have disobeyed you. For going after other gods and putting other things first. For being a terrible bride to you. Forgive me and help me to be better Lord. I want to be better. Help me to become that bride you deserve. Amen