A Morning With Hosea

I just read the book of Hosea. I read the whole 13 chapters out loud... and it was a bit tiring! I think I even yawned somewhere in chapter 9. Oops. Father forgive. and I have now a little more respect for ancient rabbis who used to read the whole Scritpures to the people in synagogues!

But despite being slightly tiring to read out loud, Hosea is a cracking little book. It's one of those books I "know of" but don't know very well. It was nice reading the whole thing in order to try and get a bigger picture of what is going on there.

One thing that struck me again whilst reading Hosea was where (or rather who) the books points to.

I don't know about you, but there have been times when I've thought that because the people of the Old Testament didn't have Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, then of course that explains why they kept on sinning and disobeying God because they couldn't know about the Cross and the grace and forgiveness of God... So let's not be harsh on them. Really? ERROR.

Hosea 6:1-3:

"... on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence"

If that's not about the Messiah, the Cross and the resurrection, then my name is Elizabeth and yes, yes, I am the Queen of England. More seriously, a good reminder that the Old Testament points to Jesus, his death and resurrection and the hope of eternal life found in him. New Testament believers knew what the Old one was all about. For example, in John 1:45, 'Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”' So I wonder does this mean that people had no excuse? Apparently.

It seems that from the beginning God describes himself as a God of justice and grace. And from the beginning he has spoken of eternal hope for sinners who would repent.

Hosea 10:12:

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the LORD,
until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”

If you read through Hosea though, it starts with- and all throughout is filled with- stark reminders of how, as God's people, we have acted in a rebellious and adulturous way towards him. I won't quote his examples, but it's not pretty. I just need to open the newspapers or read the BBC website to see all the suffering and horror that the extent of our wickedness has done to the world and us who live in it.

And yet, also in Hosea, is found the greatest mystery in the universe and beyond: God cannot help but love us and want to bring us back to himself. I find it so moving - how God is not afraid or too proud to show his feelings:

Hosea 11:8

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim?
My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.”

* You have now turned to prostitution... -Hosea 5:3
* She [my people] burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot... -Hosea 2:13
* The more they were called, the more they went away from me. -Hosea 11:2

... and yet God can say "I love them. How can I give them up?" He changed his heart? How is that possible? I don't know. What I know is that God sent Jesus to pay the price for our adultery against him, to take away our guilt permanently, so that he wouldn't have to give up on us. The newspapers don't talk about this kind of news, which IS the bestest news in the world. Read and hear God's heart and desire to seek us out that we may become his again:

Hosea 2:16-23:

"...I will betroth you to me forever;
I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
in love and compassion.
I will betroth you in faithfulness,
and you will acknowledge the LORD..."

This is GREAT, but it doesn't mean that God takes away his justice - he still cares about good and bad in the world, and will punish evildoers. It is not enough to call on him with our lips. We need to let him change our hearts. How comforting. God sees everything, and he is just and good.

Hosea 8:2-3:

Israel cries out to me,
‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
But Israel has rejected what is good;
an enemy will pursue him.

So today let us remember our great need of God's grace. Let us delight in his unfailing love and underseved mercy and grace towards us. Let us abide in Jesus Christ. Let us seek good and justice, and help those in need. And when we stray from the path, let us remember that God is never too far away, and his grace always there to bring us back:

Hosea 12:5-6:

"the LORD God Almighty,
the LORD is his name!
you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always."