DON’T TURN FROM GOD

Hosea 1:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.”

       Hosea is one of the Minor Prophets from the Old Testament period.  The date this book was written on or about 715 B.C. The last five Kings of Israel had been extremely wicked, so God, having had enough of their evil ways warned Israel to repent or judgment would fall upon them.  After His warning God reminded them of His love for them and His desire for the people of Israel to return that love rather then simply make sacrifices to Him.  He gave Hosea specific instructions to follow as seen above.  So Hosea did as he was instructed and married an unfaithful woman. She bore the prophet two sons and a daughter, Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah and Lo-ammi*.

       The point of God asking Hosea to marry a prostitute was to illustrate Israel’s current relationship with their God.  Simply said, the Lord had become irrelevant to the people of Israel.  They were breaking the Law and living as they pleased. God was about to show them that sin always comes with devastating consequences.

       What does this all mean to us today? Christians today have reinterpreted the scriptures to suit their own purposes or ignored entire passages altogether.  They have talked themselves into believing that the Lord’s love would turn a blind eye to their inconsistent living. They pretend to be honorable all the while looking to fulfill their own desires.  Many do as they please away from church thinking no one will ever know, forgetting that nothing escapes the Lord’s ever watching eye.  Set aside your own personal agendas and seek the face of God again.  The gaudy things of this world are calling you to compromise your faith in the name of supposedly freedom and pleasure, but the world offers nothing lasting and poor judgment always gets rewarded with pain.  For those who hear this and alter the path they’re on, rejoice in the fact that you have once again found favor in the sight of God.  Live for Him and be blessed!!  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!!

Resource: The Application Study Bible – New Living Translation – Tyndale Publishing.

* Jezreel, Hosea’s first born, was named after the bloody murders that took place at Jezreel by the hand of King Jehu.  God was about to punish King Jehu to avenge those murders.

    Lo-ruhamah means, “Not Loved”. Hosea’s daughter was so named because God was no longer going to “show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.”  

    Lo-ammi means, “Not My People”.  Hosea’s second son was so named because the Lord had declared that “Israel is no longer My people and I am not their God.”