All About The Book Of Hosea

Imagine going to meet your spouse who you love dearly and will do anything for. And when you meet up with them you see them talking to someone else, and your spouse seems overly interested in this person that they are talking to. You get a ping in your chest and you feel uneasy. You walk up to them hoping it was nothing and they seem a little surprised to see you and a little annoyed. Now you feel even worse about what you just saw and even angry. You love your spouse so much what can you do to get them to understand. This is how The Heavenly Father feels when he is trying to get his holy people, Israel, to listen to him and obey him. But they just keep talking to and worshiping other Gods.

Hosea 1:2-5 (KJV) The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

The book of Hosea is a love story about a man who married a woman who was unfaithful. He loved her very much but she would not return the affection back to him. She was an adulterous women and always wanted great grand things that she could not have. This story was a reflection of the relationship between The Heavenly Father and his holy people, Israel. Who always seemed to have their eyes on the other nations and just would not be happy with their own God, who supplied them with everything that they needed and more. Israel was infamous for turning away from Yahweh and picking up the other nations gods and it was something that would happen over time. Other nations gods were a little tricky because they had gods for everything. Water gods, tree gods, money gods, gods of the air, forest gods. To Israel the other nations were a trap. The other nations were also very prosperous in wealth and living and this made Israel to lust after what they had. Unfortunately they were also very wicked in the way they lived and not just in worshiping. They would sacrifice their children, defile animals, murder and steal. There was very often no justice. This was why The Heavenly Father did not want Israel to mingle with the other nations, to protect them from the evil that was in the other nations. People don’t really understand that, Holy people, was not just a title but was a fact, The Holy people had a covering from their Elohim that kept them set apart from the darkness that the other nations did not have. That’s why when Israel began to take on other gods it was not just a disrespect to Yahweh, but a deterioration to their nation, a death to self.

Hosea 13:1-4 (KJV) When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

In the Holy Bible Hosea’s story is only for three chapters and the rest of the book of Hosea talks about how Yahweh’s relationship with Israel has become, and what is to be expected. This includes what is to happen to Israel and what is to be expected of them. In the end the kindness and love of The Heavenly Father wins over all, and he promises to take them back if they turn back to him.

Hosea 14:4-9 (KJV) I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.