Tag: Hosea 1-3
A Wife given to adultery!
Scripture reading for September 5th: Hosea 1-3
Hosea was a unique prophet called by God to let his whole life, marriage, and his children become a prophetic word to God’s people. Hosea was told by God to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. God’s plan was to show Israel how they behaved toward Him and give them a visual picture of His love for them. (Hosea 1:2) His children’s names also would speak to God’s people of their spiritual condition.
Hosea married Gomer and took her as his wife. She conceived and bore him a son. The Lord told Hosea to call the son “Jezreel”, because He was going to punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel and put an end to the kingdom of Israel. (Hosea 1:4) Gomer also had two daughters and they were also named by the Lord. One was Lo-Ruhamah which meant “no love left” and the other was “Lo-Ammi” which meant “not my people”. God was telling the Israelites about a coming judgment on their nation because of their adultery against Him. He wanted them to be reminded every time they saw the prophet and his family of their own state and God’s word spoken through those children’s names. (Hosea 1:4-8)
As we read this prophet’s story, we must look in our own hearts for spiritual adultery and idolatry! (Hosea 2:5-6) Have we turned away from loving God with all our hearts? Have we run after the things of this world and trusted in our own strength and abilities rather than God? Do we belong to Him alone?
As Hosea was commanded to take back his unfaithful wife and buy her back from her adulterous lovers, so God has done the same for us! (Hosea 3:1-2) Christ died to deliver us from slavery to demonstrate His love for us! (Romans 5:8) Hosea also told Gomer to leave her life of adultery and he would live with her. Today, God tells us to depart from sin and live a holy life or we won’t see the Lord! (1st Peter 1:14-15)
Jesus Christ is coming back for His Bride, the Church! She will be a glorious Bride, without spot or wrinkle, clothed in the white linen of His righteousness! Check your life today and check your robes! Your loving Husband could come today!
The Adulterous Wife!
Scripture reading for September 4th: Hosea 1-3
Hosea was a unique prophet called by God to let his whole life, his marriage, and his children be a prophetic word to God’s people. Hosea was told by God to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. God’s plan was to show Israel how they behaved toward Him and give them a visual picture of His love for them. (Hosea 1:2)
Hosea married Gomer and took her as his wife. She conceived and bore him a son. The Lord told Hosea to call the son “Jezreel”, because He was going to punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel and put an end to the kingdom of Israel. (Hosea 1:4) Gomer also had two daughters and they were also named by the Lord. One was Lo-Ruhamah which meant “no love left” and the other was “Lo-Ammi” which meant “not my people”. God was telling Israel about a coming judgment on their nation and He wanted them to be reminded every time they saw the prophet and his family. (Hosea 1:4-8)
As I reflect on this story, I am reminded we are just like the Israelites. We have been in spiritual adultery and unfaithful to God in many ways. We have not obeyed His command to be filled with His Spirit and to go out into the world and be His witnesses. We have run after gods of pleasure instead of wholeheartedly keeping ourselves for Him. Just as Gomer ran after other lovers who offered her food, and clothes and drinks, so we have not walked faithfully before our God. (Hosea 2:5-6) We have not recognized that God is the real provider of all the good things He has provided. (Hosea 2:8)
However, as Hosea was commanded to take back his unfaithful wife and buy her back from the slave market, so God has done the same for us! (Hosea 3:1-2) Jesus died to buy us back from slavery, demonstrating His love for us! (Romans 5:8) As Hosea told Gomer to leave her life of adultery and he would live with her, God tells us to depart from sin and live a holy life if we want to see the Lord! (1st Peter 1:14-15) Jesus Christ is coming back for His Bride, the Church! She will be a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, clothed in the white linen of His righteousness! Check your life today!
Marry a Prostitute?
Scripture reading for September 6th: Hosea 1-3
The life of a prophet of God was not an easy road. God called Hosea to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. (Hosea 1:2-3) She was a prostitute with many lovers. Gomer was a picture of Israel and her affairs with many foreign gods. Hosea obeyed God and obediently lived with this woman and had three children by her. These children were given names by God that gave a prophetic message to the Israelites! God used Hosea and his unfaithful wife to be an object lesson to His wayward people!
Hosea’s first child was to be called “Jezreel”, which means “God plants”. God was going to uproot the planted house of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. The second child was a girl to be named “Lo-Ruhamah”, which means “not loved”. God was going to cut off his show of love for Israel but not for Judah. The last son was born and given the name “Lo-Ammi”, which means “not my people”. God was going to cut off His relationship with His people and this child would be a sign of His word to them. (Hosea 1:4-9)
In spite of this hard message of judgment and rejection, God gave Hosea a word of hope and encouragement as well. He was told that though the Israelites would go into captivity, they would multiply and be brought back to Israel and again be called “sons of the living God.” (Hosea 1:10) He was told that the “Valley of Achor” (trouble) would become a door of hope. (Hosea 2:15) They would again call God “my husband” instead of “my master! (Hosea 2:16) They would forsake the Baals and again become faithful to God.
Gomer left Hosea and went back to a life of prostitution. She sold herself into slavery and bondage. God told Hosea buy her back. “So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.” ” (Hosea 3:2-3) This again was a picture of God’s unfailing love for His own adulterous people. In the last days they would return to Him and enjoy His blessings again! Take a moment and reflect on God’s faithful love for you and thank Him for it!
The Adulterous Wife!
Scripture reading for September 5th: Hosea 1-3
Hosea was a unique prophet called by God to let his whole life, his marriage, and his children be a prophetic word to God’s people. Hosea was told by God to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. God’s plan was to show Israel how they behaved toward Him and give them a visual picture of His love for them. (Hosea 1:2) The children’s names also were prophetic and would remind the people of the consequences of their sins. God’s ways are often above our ways and He will go to great lengths to reach His people. Those whom He called to be His prophets had to be willing to obey His instructions, even in their personal lives. We are not our own, we are bought with a price! (1st Corinthians 6:19-20)
Hosea married Gomer and took her as his wife. She conceived and bore him a son. The Lord told Hosea to call the son “Jezreel”, because He was going to punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel and put an end to the kingdom of Israel. (Hosea 1:4) Gomer also had two daughters and they were also named by the Lord. One was Lo-Ruhamah which meant “no love left” and the other was “Lo-Ammi” which meant “not my people”. God was telling the Israelite about a coming judgment on their nation because of their sins of idolatry and spiritual adultery against Him. He wanted them to be reminded every time they saw the prophet and his family of their own state and God’s word spoken through those children’s names. (Hosea 1:4-8)
As I reflect on this story, I am reminded we are just like Gomer in our ways. We have been in spiritual adultery and unfaithful to God in many ways. We have not obeyed His command to be filled with His Spirit and to go out into the world and be His witnesses. We have run after other gods of pleasure and ease instead of wholeheartedly keeping ourselves for Him. Just as Gomer ran after other lovers who offered her food, and clothes and drinks, so we have not walked faithfully before our God. (Hosea 2:5-6) We have not recognized that God is the real provider of all the good things that we have and instead have used them to serve ourselves instead of Him. (Hosea 2:8)
However, as Hosea was commanded to take back his unfaithful wife and buy her back from the slave market, so God has done the same for us! (Hosea 3:1-2) He died for us in payment for our sins and deliverance from slavery to demonstrate His love for us! (Romans 5:8) Hosea did tell Gomer to leave her life of adultery and live free from that bondage and he would live with her. God tells us to depart from sin and live a holy life. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord! (1st Peter 1:14-15)
Jesus Christ is coming back for His Bride, the Church! She is to be a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, clothed in the white linen of His righteousness! Check your life today and check your robes! Your loving Husband could come today!