The Old Testament prophet Hosea, written around 755 to 710
B.C. may not make for calm bedtime reading, but His life was significant for
all the right reasons. Hosea’s ministry extended about forty-five years,
covering the reigns of seven kings in Israel and four kings in Judah. He was a
contemporary of both Isaiah and Micah.
During Hosea’s era in Israel’s history, the nation
experienced political stability and material prosperity. It was a golden age
that brought with it the greatest challenge possible, although not considered
to be a problem by most people.
Hosea’s prophetic ministry began towards the end of the
reign of King Jeroboam II. Humanly speaking the nation was doing well, but with
material blessing came spiritual apostacy and moral decay. Following King Jeroboam’s
death, society declined into chaos and disorder, which ultimately led to them being
overthrown and exiled by Assyria.
Hosea, therefore, became one of the few mouthpieces for the
God of Israel during some of the most chaotic times. His messages for the
nation warned of coming judgement if they refused to turn away from their sin
and live according to the covenant relationship Yahweh had established with
them.
The thing that often stands out to us, is God’s instruction
for Hosea to marry a prostitute as a picture of the nation’s unfaithfulness to
the Lord. But more than that, Hosea’s peculiar marriage vividly pictured
Yahweh’s faithfulness to His unfaithful covenant people. Israel had failed
miserably, but their God would not fail them. Throughout the book of Hosea, we
repeatedly hear the words of a heartbroken God over the people of His
determined love (cf. Romans 11:1-2).
No doubt Hosea came under considerable criticism for obeying
the Lord’s strange instruction; “Go and marry a
prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution.
This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against
the LORD and worshiping other gods” (Hosea
1:2 NLT). Well, just as the Lord predicted, Hosea’s wife Gomer, was unfaithful,
and refused to abandon her promiscuous lifestyle. Gomer perfectly depicted
Israel’s unwillingness to abandon idolatry.
Things got really messed up with Gomer, and she eventually
found herself trapped in slavery at a slave auction. Following the Lord’s
instructions, Hosea bought her back for fifteen
pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine (Hosea
3:2). What a horrendous yet gracious thing for a husband to do, to buy his own
unfaithful wife out of slavery.
You see, because Hosea’s marriage was divinely appointed to
illustrate the broken relationship between Yahweh and Israel, mercy had to be
put on display through Hosea. So, the Lord told Hosea, “Go and love your
wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will
illustrate that the LORD still loves Israel, even though the people have turned
to other gods and love to worship them” (Hosea 3:1 NLT).
Despite all the complexities in Hosea having to pay to be
reconciled to His wife, He was faithful to Gomer. But more importantly, He was
faithful to God, which pictured God’s faithfulness to Israel.
This perfectly pictures the Lord Jesus Christ and His love
for us! The apostle Paul explains in Colossians 1:22 NIV, He (God) has
reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His
sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Jesus bought us out
of sin’s idolatry and slavery through His death and resurrection. May the life
of Hosea enrich our love for our heavenly Father and the salvation He provides
through the Lord Jesus Christ.
