Africa Study Bible Sampler - Flipbook - Page 52
THE BOOK OF
HOSEA
Author: The prophet Hosea. The son of Beeri, Hosea’s name means “salvation.” His three
children, Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, and Lo-ammi, later played an important part in Hosea’s
message to Israel.
Date: Hosea recorded events between about 760 and 722 bc, before the fall of Israel to
Assyria.
Purpose: To illustrate God’s covenant love for his people even when they are unfaithful
and to call them to repentance. The illustration of marriage and intimate language
portrays our relational and loving God in a way that prepares us for the teachings of Jesus.
Overview and Story: The book of Hosea illustrates the intimate relationship between God
and his people. Hosea ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel for forty years before
its fall to the Assyrians in 722 bc. Other prophets during this time who preached the same
messages of unfaithfulness to God were Amos, Isaiah, and Micah. God asked Hosea to
marry Gomer, a prostitute, saying that children born during the marriage might not be
his. The first three chapters tell the story of the unfaithfulness and then the redemption
of Gomer. “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another
lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel” (Hosea 3:1). Hosea’s experience
with Gomer illustrates God’s experience with Israel. This dramatic story shows that the
Lord (the husband) still loves Israel (his wife) even though she has loved other gods. This
is a unique situation that serves as an object lesson, not as a model for our families.
The second part of the book (Hosea 4–14) uses this story to warn of severe judgement
because of Israel’s worshipping of other gods. The book ends with the hopeful message that
Israel would receive forgiveness and restoration if the people returned to God (Hosea 14).
God is faithful to his people. He pursues us, even when we have been unfaithful to him
and rejected his love. This is true, eternal, and unconditional love.
What Hosea Teaches Us:
• Faith in God requires total dedication to him, just as we should be fully dedicated to
our husband or wife (see Ephesians 5:25-33). We cannot trust God and also trust in
our traditions, good behaviour, wealth, status, or position. If we trust God completely, he promises to answer our prayers and take care of us (Hosea 14:8).
• True repentance requires a turning away from sin to God himself and choosing to
love him and to know him (Hosea 6:6). In some churches in Africa, people are called
to repent again and again. The danger is that repetitive repentance can become an
empty ritual. The people of Israel were convinced that God would be impressed by
their sacrifices (Hosea 6:1-3), but their hearts and their lifestyles showed they were
not truly repentant.
• The abuse of wealth leads to idolatry. The idolatry of Israel in the time of Hosea was
strongly connected with wealth and prosperity (Hosea 2:5, 12; 10:1). People were
lying and cheating in order to get rich (Hosea 12:7-8). There is much controversy
about wealth in the church in Africa today. Some Christians view wealth as positive,
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