We recognize that the Church is the Bride of Christ, and Christians look forward to the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven (Revelation 19:9) However, we sometimes fail to recognize that the Lord considers Israel His wife. And His wife has been adulterous since the beginning. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the “marriage contract,” the Ten Commandments and other laws, Israel was partying and worshipping the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:5-6).
The Prophet Hosea is thought to have lived in the rebellious northern kingdom, after the separation of Judah and Israel. It was the northern kingdom, the Kingdom of Israel, that worshipped the golden calves in Bethel and Dan. Hosea was instructed by the Lord to marry an adulterous woman. This obedient servant of the Lord was living a metaphor of the Lord’s relation with Israel.
The wife of Hosea, Gomer, bore him three children (Hosea 1:3-9). The Lord named them Jezreel, because He would punish Israel for “the blood of Jezreel;” the next was named Loruhamah, which means “not loved;” the third was named Loammi, which means “not my people.” How sad that the Lord did not consider them “His people.” The Lord was making a statement about the Kingdom of Israel, and Hosea was living it.
The Book of Hosea contains the Lord’s condemnations of Israel, and His promise of future restoration. In chapter three, the Lord told Hosea to reconcile with his wayward, adulterous wife. So Hosea purchased his wife. Again, this relationship is a picture of that of God and Israel.
Hosea not only was living a metaphor of the marriage of God and Israel, he was a prophet. Here are some of the remarkable prophesies given by the Lord through Hosea:
The prophecy that Israel would be wanderers without a land . . .
“My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.” – Hosea 9:17The prophecy of the destruction of the northern kingdom, Israel . . .
“ ... but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.” – Hosea 8:6The prophecy of Millennial Days . . .
“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” – Hosea 6:2The prophecy of resurrection, which parallels that of Ezekiel chapter thirty-seven . . .
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.” – Hosea 13:14The prophecy that the Lord would return to Heaven until Israel acknowledges their sin. The phrase “seek me early” could be “seek me at the dawn,” possibly indicating Israel would seek the Lord at the dawning of the Third Millennium, or the dawning of the Tribulation.
“I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” – Hosea 5:15The prophets were blessed by their relationship with the Lord, but their lives were not easy. Hosea is a good example of that. Perhaps there is a lesson here for Christians; we are blessed by our relationship with the Lord, but life is not always easy.
Praise the Lord for His blessings.