Why the Old Testament Matters: Lessons from Hosea

Why the Old Testament Matters: Lessons from Hosea

Could you imagine if God told you to purposefully marry someone you knew would cheat on you? You knew they would betray you, and you knew they would be promiscuous with other people. It wouldn’t seem to make sense. But that’s what God told Hosea to do: “When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him: ‘Go and marry a woman of promiscuity, and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the Lord’” (Hosea 1:2). 

Why would God ask Hosea to do something so hard? 

As it says in Hosea 6:3, “Let’s strive to know the Lord.” Let’s learn why God did this and what it means about His character and our relationship with Him. Throughout this book, we will see that God is not an absent, unfeeling deity. He experiences grief, betrayal, anger, and sorrow, and yet relentlessly pursues those He loves.

First, we see that God commanded Hosea to marry Gomer (a woman characterized by unfaithfulness) to show us what it was like for God to be in a relationship with His people, Israel (who were also characterized by unfaithfulness). Throughout the book of Hosea, we find descriptions of what Gomer and Israel were like. She got herself all dressed up, but then followed her lovers and forgot God. Israel was guilty of committing fraud, breaking in, stealing, raiding, pillaging, betrayal, and violating their covenant with God . The people were arrogant and did not even really know God (see chapters 5–7). Their evil actions were all around them. God says, “They are right in front of my face” (Hosea 7:2). They were corrupt and would not return to their God. 

Following that description, Hosea shows us what God is like. He is hurt, betrayed, and upset. He rebukes their misbehavior, withdraws from them, and even becomes furious (5:6, 10). He says, “I will depart and return to my place until they recognize their guilt and seek my face” (5:15a). He also mourns the damaged relationship, lamenting, “What am I going to do with you [Israel]? Your love is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes” (6:4, emphasis added). Then God explains what He wants; He says, “I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But they…have betrayed me” (6:6–7). 

Hosea, like God, doesn’t give up. He goes again and redeems his repeatedly unfaithful wife. The Lord commands him, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods” (Hosea 3:1–2, emphasis added). So Hosea buys his wife for 15 shekels of silver. He redeems her out of the debt and slavery she had gotten herself into. 

Throughout this story, we learn that God is a very present and feeling God who—though He experiences grief, betrayal, and sorrow—ultimately desires restoration and relationship.

So it is with Israel too. As happens so often, God’s people get themselves into trouble by not staying with God. And in the middle of the book, Hosea calls out to the Israelites, pleading with them to repent and turn back to God. He reminds them that when they do, God will heal them and bind up their wounds. He even includes a prophecy that foreshadows how God plans to redeem His people out of the debt and slavery they have gotten into. He will do it through Jesus’ death and resurrection: “He will revive us after two days,” it says, “and on the third day, he will raise us up so we can live in his presence. [So] Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn” (Hosea 6:2–3). 

Of course, Israel messes up again and again, just like Gomer did. And so do we. God describes the punishment they deserve over the course of many chapters. But God also shows His relentless, pursuing love and His unwavering desire for restoration. In Chapter 11, He says, “I have had a change of heart; my compassion is stirred! I will not vent the full fury of my anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim [Israel]” (Hosea 11:8b–9a). In another place, God says, “I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him” (Hosea 14:4).

Throughout this story, we learn that God is a very present and feeling God who—though He experiences grief, betrayal, and sorrow—ultimately desires restoration and relationship. He asked Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman so we could better understand how God chooses us and loves us, even though He knows we turn away from Him. It is sad but true that we hurt God, yet He still loves us.

So, what does God want from His unfaithful people (and what would Hosea want from Gomer)? It’s pretty simple: He asks for faithful love and the knowledge of Him. In other words, He wants a relationship with His people in which they truly know and love Him. 

Today, we encourage you to reach out to God in prayer and make an effort to get to know Him better by reading the words He has given us in the Bible, including the book of Hosea. 

If you have questions about today’s topic or would like someone to pray for you, you can reach out to us on our website, experiencecc.com.