Hosea
God Of The Unfaithful
God Of The Unfaithful
God's Faithfulness
No one is beyond the offer of our forgiveness because no one sits outside God’s offer of forgiveness. God brings judgment on those who turn from Him, but Hosea’s powerful act of restoration within his own marriage set a high bar for those of us seeking godliness in our lives. Though God will bring judgment on sin, He will always bring His people back to Himself.
19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. —Hosea 2:19-20 (KJV)
Love Her As The Lord Loves The Israelites
1 Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.—Hosea 3:1 (KJV)
God's Message To Us From Hosea
1. The Personal Agony Of An Unfaithful Spouse
- Adulterous Wife, Faithful Husband (ch. 1-3)
- Marriage and Children (v. 1:2)
- Separation and Renunion (v. 3:1)
- Hosea remains true to wive despite her infidelity
- Adulterous Nation, Faithful God (ch. 4-14)
- Sin of the people and the Character of God
- Nation is Guilty, God is Holy
- Nation is Judged, God is Just
- Nation is Hopeful, God is Love
- God remains faithful to an unfaithful people
Hosea 11:1-12
King James Version
God’s Continuing Love For Israel
1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. 6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
10 They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. 11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord.
God’s Charge Against Ephraim, Israel’s Sin
12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
✝ Christ Typified In Hosea
- Christ's being called out from hiding in Egypt as a child is pictured in Hosea's record of Israel's exodus from Egypt (Hosea 11:1; cf. Matthew 2:15).
- In Homer's redemption of Gomer from the slave market, Christ is pictured as the loving, faithful Redeemer of sinful humanity. (Hosea 3:2-3, cf. Zechariah 11:11-13; Matthew 26:15)
God Of The Unfaithful
