Hosea
One of the most remarkable characteristics of the child of God is forgiveness. Yet, the child is simply imitation the Father. For only the forgiven can truly forgive (Matt. 6:12, 14, 15).
A story is told about a young soldier in General Napoleon's Army who fell asleep while on guard duty. The General ordered the boy to be shot at dawn. The soldier's mother plead on her knees for Napoleon to have mercy on her son. "Your son doesn't deserve mercy!" replied Napoleon. "If he deserved it," the heartbroken mother replied, "it would not be mercy." Napoleon let the boy live. You see, Napoleon had once neglected his duty and lived to remember it. Indeed, only those who understand mercy can extend it.
Hosea, whose name means "God is salvation," will marry at the bidding of the Lord a woman or "harlotry," (Gomer). Although she had three children, Gomer will leave her family and commit adultery. Hosea will search for, forgive and receive her back. Undoubtedly, the prophet knew what forgiveness was like.
The relationship between Hosea and Gomer is an allegory of the relationship between God and Israel (Chapter 2). This is why God will command Hosea to marry Gomer and have children. Hosea's children (Jezreel, "God scatters," Loruhaman, "not pitied," and Loammi, "not my people") rebuke and punish their mother, bring her to her senses and are instrumental in her return to Hosea. These events illustrate Israel's spiritual adultery with Canaanite religion. God scatters, refuses to pity and disowns Israel that she might return home. When Israel seeks God's forgiveness, mercy is lovingly extended. Hosea and his family are living examples of how God deals with His people.
Hosea will forgive Gomer to obey the commandment of God. Yet, strangely to us, Hosea will continue to live with Gomer. Although the innocent party has the right to divorce (Mt. 19:9), or remain separated (1 Cor. 7:10ff) from an unfaithful spouse, the individual does not have the right to withhold forgiveness if genuine repentance is manifested. Perhaps one cannot remain with his unchaste spouse as Hosea did. God does not require this of His children. Yet, He does require that His children forgive because they have been forgiven by their Father. Let us never forget that lying, stealing, neglecting the needy, forsaking the church services, and all other sins are just as wrong as adultery (James 2:10). It is little wonder, then, that Jesus said to those who would stone the adulteress, "You who are without sin, cast the first stone" (John 8:7).
Hosea has many valuable lessons for the twentieth century Christian. One, without knowledge of God, man cannot make it (Hosea 4:6). How will man ever know how to live pleasingly before God without knowledge of Him? Two, Hosea loved his family and did everything in his power to keep them together. Three, spiritual adultery is committed when we fail to be loyal and faithful to God. Four, if we sow the wind we, most assuredly, will reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8). Five, God chastises those whom He loves (e.g. Heb. 12:4 ff).
George DeHoff said of this book, "Is this not a picture of how all of us have been unfaithful to God, and yet, He has been loving and forgiving, ready to pick us up and take us home?" When was the last time you allowed Hosea to show you just how much God loves you?
From Our Archives, 1985
By: David Powell