Read Hosea 1 at Bible Gateway.
Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel before they were carried away captive by Assyria, and scattered among the Gentile nations and integrated with them, until they had forgotten who they were.
God is using Hosea’s relationship with his wife Gomer, as an object lesson picturing the relationship between Himself and the children of Israel. Just as Gomer had been a harlot, Israel as YHVH’s wife, whom He betrothed to Himself by the covenant of Sinai (Exo 19), had been unfaithful to Him because of her idolatry. Hosea and Gomer have three children:
Jezreel [God sows];
Lo-ruhamah [Not pitied];
Lo-ammi [Not My people].
However, as is always the case when God delivers bad news, immediately on the heels follows the turn around:
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered; and it shall come to pass that, instead of that which was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ it shall be said to them: ‘You are sons of the living God.’ And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall go up out of the land; for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hos 1:10-11
Why This Matters: The names of Hosea’s children pronounce God’s heartbreak and rejection over Israel’s unfaithfulness and betrayal. However, what began as scattering (Jezreel) becomes glorious sowing for multiplication—like the sand on the seashore! “No mercy” (Lo-ruhamah) is reversed into overflowing compassion. “Not My people” (Lo-ammi) is transformed into the joyful cry, “You are sons of the living God!” fully restored under the kingship of Messiah Yeshua. Whatever curse was spoken over our lives, the moment we whisper, “Redeem even me, beloved Savior,” He pours out His positive opposite blessing and calling over us!
The Hebrew paragraphs for this chapter:
Hos 1:1-2a {p} The word of YHVH by the prophet Hosea the son of Beeri
Hos 1:2b-9 {p} Hosea’s wife of harlotry, and the three children she bore him: Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, Lo-Ammi
Hos 1:10-2:13 {s} …
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Redeemed Israel – Batya Wootten
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