1. God loves the unlovely.
Hosea 1:2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord."
During the eighth century BC, Hosea started his prophetic ministry during the reign of Judah's King Uzziah (a time of prosperity) and extended through kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He also saw the six last kings reign in the Northern Kingdom. Because of the idolatry of the people--especially in the Northern Kingdom of Israel--God's judgment was pronounced upon the people.
The cancer of idolatry and Baal worship destroyed Israel from within; the pressure of a rising Assyrian empire pressed on them from without. God's people were in stubborn rebellion and under the judgment of God. Hosea was sent to warn the people of the consequences of their behavior. This prophet was also a living reminder of the faithful love of God.
Hosea and Gomer's children were also lessons from God. Jezreel, reminded them of an awful place of bloodshed where Jezebel, Ahab's sons, and the priests of Baal were slain.
Romans 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
2. Our unfaithfulness to God is shameful in light of His great love for us.
Hosea 1:4 And the Lord said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Lo-Ruhamah, the daughter's name, means "not loved."
Hosea 1:6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all.
Lo-Ammi means "not my people."
Hosea 1:9 And the Lord said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God."
Gomer's unfaithfulness led to her being taken as the slave or concubine of another man. Yet, God commanded Hosea to go and buy (redeem) his wife from the man. Does this story sound familiar?
3. Our hearts were made to love God alone.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
God demands our complete faithfulness. His love is great. However, God tolerates no other idols.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Hosea 4:12 My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.
Hosea 4:16 Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
4. God calls His people to return to Him and His great love.
Hosea 6:1-3 "Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and 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 before him. 3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
God will restore His people.
Hosea 1:10-11 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God." 11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
God's love for His people is everlasting.
Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
Hosea 11:8 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.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
