Hosea wrote the book of Hosea, to remind us about a loving, forgiving, restoring God. Despite Israel’s continual turning to false gods, God’s steadfast love for them never faltered. Yet Hosea’s message is also one of warning to those who would turn their backs on God’s love. Hosea had to obey God sacrificially and he suffered much. When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, ’Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.’” [Hosea 1:2] Hosea’s marriage had to depict the state of Israel at that time. Gomer, Hosea’s wife, committed adultery time and time again, and after bearing Hosea three children, she walked away from Hosea to her lovers.
But praise the Lord, just as Hosea forgave his wife and bought her back because he loved her, and their marriage was restored; just so God bought back “Israel” with His tender forgiveness. He also buys us back with the sacrificial suffering of His Only Son, Jesus Christ, who restores us from spiritual death to life eternal.
Hosea 2 shows the punishment of Israel, but also the very gentle forgiving love of God. We can place ourselves in Israel’s [“her”] situation. ““Therefore, I am now going to allure her. I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” [verses 14+15]
The “Valley of Achor” symbolises troubles and suffering. Father God speaks to us in our wilderness/desert/suffering times, telling us that He will give us hope and restore our “vineyards” and lives, making us fruitful again.
Precious Father God, loving Lord Jesus, thank You that You take us back, [like Hosea took back Gomer] when we fall and turn to you. Thank You that You are in the restoration business, renewing and replenishing what we have lost. Thank You that You say to us like You did to the strong-willed Israelites: “I will plant her (us) for Myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one. I will say to those called ‘Not my people, ‘You are my people’; and they (we) will say, ‘You are my God.’” [Hosea 2:23] We love, honour and treasure You precious Saviour, Redeemer and Friend and we say to You this day, “You are my God!”
Myrtle Turunen