Hosea....and Harlotry

I have been reading the book of Hosea.  It is the first of the last 12 books of the Old Testament.  These 12 books that conclude the OT are called the Minor Prophets; minor, not in importance, just in length.

The prophet Hosea is an unusual character.  He prophesied during the latter days of the Northern kingdom of Israel.  The nation had gotten away from God and had gone to worshiping idols; and we know that God hates that.  When problems arose, they would seek help from other nations like Egypt and Assyria, not from God.  And God did not like that.

What makes Hosea unusual is that God instructed him to marry a harlot....a ho in today's vernacular.  And it appears that she continued her evil practices even after marrying Hosea.  But Hosea was patient and determined that he could restore his wife, Gomer.  It is clear in the book of Hosea that this marriage was symbolic of God trying to restore the wayward nation of Israel so that they would once again be reliant on Him, be His people....and quit their spiritual and physical harlotry.

Like all books of the Bible, this book has significance to us today.  God is not happy when His people stray; when His people seek other solutions, rather than follow Him.  But the beauty of this is that God always provides a solution to the problem.  God always allows His people to come back to Him; to restore and be accepted back fully.  In fact, God calls us to do that; encourages us.  Note Hosea 14:1:

"O Israel, return to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
Take words with you,
And return to the Lord.
Say to Him,
'Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously...' "

And the book concludes:

"Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent?
Let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them."

The lesson is clear to us.  We need to do things in God's ways....and avoid the ways that are evil....and destructive to us.  We need to love our God!

Thanks for reading.  Have a blessed week!