SOAP Hosea 1: Redeemed

Redeemed

Hosea 1

---

BACKGROUND: Hosea is a prophet. His ministry spanned the years 760 to 720 B.C. during the days of the divided monarchy. This was after the days of David and Solomon, when the people of God divided in a civil war, creating two nations: Israel in the north, and Judah in the south.  Hosea’s ministry was in Israel.

Hosea began his ministry in the days of King Jeroboam II. Israel prospered politically and materially under his reign, but it was a time of significant spiritual and moral decay. Things were so politically successful and economically prosperous that people just didn’t look to the Lord the way that they should. The seeds of idolatry, spiritual failure, and moral corruption sown in days of Jeroboam II produced a tragic harvest in the following years.

Hosea was chosen to live out God’s message to His people by taking a wife, Gomer,  who would be unfaithful to him.  

---

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

Hosea 1:2 NLT

It seems odd that God would ask Hosea to marry a prostitute. She was still one after he married her. It might be that God wanted Hosea’s life to mirror how people treat God. God brings us into a covenant relationship and we still choose other things over him, we are not faithful.

This might seem harsh, to me it definitely does. God knew that Hosea would obey and what would come.  

Has God asked you to do something that doesn’t make sense? or is hard?  

I know he has asked me to do some hard things.  I have to trust He has a plan and it is for good,  not for evil or for my destruction.

Gomer gives birth to a son and the Lord tells Hosea to name him Jezreel.  The name means scattered or sow.   It is also a physical place, a valley.

Two more children are born, a daughter and another son. Their names are Lo-Ruhamah which means no mercy and Lo-Ammi which means not my people.  

Can you imagine naming your children these names or growing up with one of these names?  They were constant reminders of how far the people had pulled away from God.

The chapter ends with God redeeming these names.

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 ‘children of the living God.’ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.

Hosea 1:10-11 NLT

This is how God works, he takes what was broken, and makes it new. He takes the worst situation and creates beauty and wholeness.

Has God done this in your life?  Where have you seen God redeem what was meant to harm and turn it to good?  

Prayer: Jesus, you are the waymaker.  I may not be able to understand how or why you do what you do, but I know that you are good. I know that you have the big picture plan and I do not. Help me to rest in that knowledge. You see the beginning and the end. You are the mighty God, able to redeem and save what I see as over.  Thank you for your love and mercy. Thank you for calling me your own.

Amen.