Perhaps there is not better prophet to speak to the United States in 2021 than Hosea. He spoke mostly to the Northern Kingdom of Israel addressing its religion, its morality and its politics. His chief metaphor for the people of Israel was that of a “harlot.” To feel the impact of this, we may want to use the word “hooker.” As a people they were promiscuous; fooling around with anyone or anything that they believed would serve their interests. Corruption and oppression were rampant, and they people of God pinned their hopes on their allies rather than God. Hosea, speaks to the people and remind them, not of God’s great anger, but of God’s great love.
This picture of Israel’s promiscuity is expressed in Hosea’s own household. His wife, Gomer, is an adulteress, one who has been with many others. This leads to divorce in his marriage - and in that culture it is Gomer who would have been seen as one who is a disgrace. But the story of Hosea and Gomer reflects God’s heart, not our attitudes. This is why Hosea brings Gomer back to be his wife and renews their marriage.
The idea that this story of Hosea and Gomer actually happened was unacceptable in the minds of many. This is why many have suggested maybe this didn’t really happen - maybe it was a dream, a vision or a picture, but not a historical fact. Perhaps what’s more unacceptable is the way God continues to return to God’s people; reaching out to us again and again to renew a relationship for which God’s heart longs.
September 18, 2022: The One About Obedience - Michael Hidalgo
September 11, 2022: Behold What Love Can Do - Cari Jenkins
September 4, 2022: The Messy Middle - Dave Neuhausel
August 28, 2022: Finding Delight - Amanda Lum
August 21, 2022: Jesus is the Question - Bekah Stewart
August 14, 2022: A Deeper Breath of Tenderness - Ryan Taylor
August 7, 2022: The Problem with Peacekeeping - Paula Williams
July 31, 2022: On The Move - Landon Lynch
July 24, 2022: On The Move - Kristin Wright
July 17, 2022: On the Move - Cari Jenkins
July 3, 2022: On The Move - Michelle Cazas
June 26, 2022: Is There A Doctor In The House? - Scott Oppliger
June 19, 2022: I’m Not Done Hoping For You - Amanda Lum
June 12, 2022: You Can If You Want To - Bekah Stewart
June 5, 2022: Did You Catch Anything? - Maggie Knight
May 29, 2022: Deepest Gladness, Greatest Need - Mike Goldsworthy
May 22, 2022: You Can’t Say That Here - Dave Meserve
May 15, 2022: An Initiation - Nick Elio
May 8, 2022: Back to the Beginning-Paula Williams
April 24, 2022: Begin At The Ending - Bekah Stewart
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