“A Tough Assignment”

Series: “God Speaks”

Text: Hos. 1:1-11

Introduction: (What?)

Hosea, like Amos, prophesied mostly to the Northern Kingdom which is often referred to as Ephraim. He apparently lived in Samaria, but most likely moved to Jerusalem (in Judah) by the time the Assyrians overran Samaria. His ministry spanned about 60 years during the reigns of 4 kings of the Southern Kingdom and one king in the Northern Kingdom. His ministry overlapped with that of Amos. Although some called him a “prophet of doom”, the Talmud refers to him as the “greatest prophet” to Israel. He was also a contemporary of Micah and Isaiah who were prophets to Judah. He had a lot in common with Jeremiah in that God often had them to demonstrate His message through their actions as well as speak it in words.

The people of the No. Kingdom (Israel, Ephraim) during a time of affluence had lapsed into promiscuity, idolatry and iniquity. Hosea’s message to them was delivered both verbally and by example. His plea was for them to “return to the LORD”. That is what makes his message relevant to us today. We are in a position of promiscuity, idolatry and iniquity (evil). Unless we return to the LORD, we may well face a fate much like Israel of Hosea’s time.

Examination: (What?)

1. Say what??? (vv 1-3)

Unlike Amos, we don’t know what Hosea’s vocation was other than being a prophet. God’s initial message to Hosea is the beginning of what we know about him.

“The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, son of Beeri during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah, and of Jereboam, son of Jehoash, King of Israel.”

There was a continuous stream of messages from God to Israel through Hosea during this time. In preparation for delivering these messages God commanded and led Hosea into experiences that caused him to feel what God was feeling regarding Israel’s unfaithfulness.

“When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, He said this to him: ‘Go and marry a woman of promiscuity, and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the LORD.’ So he went and married Gomer, daughter of Diblaim, and she bore him a son.”

There was evidently no shortage of promiscuous women in Israel at the time. Although Gomer probably was chaste when she first married Hosea, God knew that she would follow the warped mores of the time and place and become promiscuous after she was married and had a child. God’s command to “Go and marry of woman of promiscuity” is prophetic. It doesn’t mean that Gomer was a prostitute at the time Hosea married her. Rather it points to the fact that she will become promiscuous after she was married to him. This would fit the description of Israel which first followed, loved and obeyed God, but later wandered into idolatry (spiritual adultery). Hosea would be broken-hearted by this turn of events and thus would understand God’s broken-heartedness regarding promiscuous Israel. When he spoke God’s message to Israel, he did it from his own broken heart.

2. The Name Game (vv 4-9)

When Gomer bore a son to Hosea, God told him what to name the boy. Names in Jewish culture are meaningful, either describing who the child is or whom they will become.

“Then the LORD said to him, ‘Name him Jezreel, for in a little while I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.’”

The name, Jezreel, means “God will scatter”. It is a prediction of judgment. This is precisely what happened when Assyria overran Israel in 722 B.C. and then dispersed them into surrounding countries. To “break the bow” means that God will totally destroy the military of Israel.

This hearkens back to 2 Kings 9:7-10:27 When King Jehu completely wiped out the family of King Ahab (husband of Jezebel). It happened in Jezreel. Now God was prophesying that in the same way Jehu and family would be wiped out. Thus the symbolism of the name of the son of Hosea.

“She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to him, ‘Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel.”

The name, Lo-ruhamah means, “no compassion”. Giving the daughter born to Gomer (this time it doesn’t say that this is Hosea’s offspring. She could well have been an illegitimate child) this name is a prophecy against Israel. God was saying, “I will no longer have pity, or compassion for Israel. My patience has run out.” It is a dangerous thing to take the patience of God for granted. Those who say, “Oh someday I will get right with God.” are putting themselves in the position of Isreal in the days of Hosea.

“But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by the LORD their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword or war, or by horses and cavalry.”

In sharp contrast to the prophecy against Israel, God promises personal deliverance for Judah. When Israel was being besieged by the Assyrians, God intervened on behalf of Judah because they had remained faithful to Him under the leadership of King Hezekiah.

“After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. Then the LORD said, ‘Name him Lo ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.

In essence God was announcing through the name of this child His divorce from Israel. All of the promises in the marriage covenant were then reversed. Again the danger of putting off receiving Christ may well bring a person to the point of seeking repentance for the wrong reasons as Esau did.

In Hebrews 12:15-17 we find, “Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.” Just as Esau desired a “do-over” when he realized that he had forfeited his birthright, it was not possible. The repentance that he sought was not true repentance for his sin, but a desire for his sin to be overlooked so that he could be blessed. True repentance which springs from “godly sorrow” has no strings attached. It means that one is truly sorry for the wrong they have done and are changing direction to follow Christ. This is the repentance that leads to salvation. 2 Cor 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.”

Israel had not “godly sorrow” for her spiritual adultery, and thus God “divorced” her. He declared, “I will not be your God.”

3. Restoration! (vv 10-11)

In Hos 1:10-11 “Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God. And the Judeans and the Israelites will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves a single ruler and go up from the land. For the day of Jezreel will be great.”

Although v 9 seemed to put an end to God’s relationship with Israel, in vv 10-11 we see God’s grace restoring the relationship. It is somewhat like a couple that marries, divorces and then remarries. Remember, God always spared or preserved a “remnant” whenever He disciplined His people. That is the picture here. The remnant of Israel will grow (reproduce) until they are innumerable. God will once again acknowledge them as His own (Sons of the living God). The northern and southern kingdoms will reunite. The “single leader” will be Messiah. Although the first mention of Jezreel was negative, this mention is positive as in a verdant, green land that produces plentiful crops of wheat. BTW, the Valley of Jezreel is also the Valley of Megiddo or Armageddon where the final battle between Christ and the followers of Satan will take place.

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

I must be sure that I have surrendered to Christ and am counted among the Sons of God. That happens when I turn from self and sin and turn to Christ. The way I do it is by saying to Him, “Jesus, I give you my life” and taking hands off from that point on.

I must remember that although I belong to Christ, the old sin nature must be continually put to death. As Paul mentioned in Romans 6:11 “So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” I must consider, or reckon myself to be dead to the old nature. As long as we are in this world, there will be an on-going battle with the old nature.