Bible Commentaries

The Object Lesson Of Hosea's Family

-- Hosea Two --

The terrible unfaithfulness of Hosea's wife, Gomer, is a picture of Israel's unfaithfulness to God. Israel had turned to other gods just as Gomer had turned to other men. God had looked upon Israel as His people pictured in the name of the son Ammi. He had extended mercy to them as pictured by the name of Hosea's daughter, Ruhamah. In Hosea two we also see the names Ishi and Baali. God said, "thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali." The desire of God was to be called Israel's husband and not called her god, Baal any more.

In sadness Hosea asked his children to tell their mother to stop living like a prostitute. The picture was that Gomer was bringing terrible misery and destitution upon herself by her sinful living. This prostitute took no thought as to how she was hurting the ones that loved her. This was the same with the nation of Israel. They had no concern as to how they were hurting God. Hosea's unfaithful wife thought that she could get all she needed elsewhere. She was mistaken. She desperately needed her husband just as Israel needed God. Israel thought she could get what she needed from Baal, but she was terribly likewise mistaken.

God put things in Israel's path to bring her back to her to knees. Like Gomer they should have realized that life was better with their first husband. God had blessed Israel and she used those very blessing to serve the Baal. The result of this unfaithfulness and unthankfulness was that God took back his blessings. Those that lose God also lose every reason for joy. "I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts." Israel had forgotten God and had turned to Baal.

It is hard to imagine such love but Hosea still loved his unfaithful wife and God still loved Israel in her unfaithfulness. The valley of Achor was given to Israel as a door of hope. Troubles often draw people to the Master. There was coming a time when the people would not use the name of Baal any more. Because of Jesus God could say, "I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God."

Plead with your mother to do right-- Hosea 2:1-5 : Through the years of the Jewish nation there were always some that were godly people. These righteous ones were to say let your brothers be called "Ammi" or "My People" and your sisters be called "Ruhamah" or "Shown Mercy." Today those that are Christians greet one another as brethren. They realize that by God's mercy they are His children.

Gomer represented "the ten tribes" that had departed from God. God said, "She is no longer my wife, and now I, the LORD, am not her husband." The righteous were to beg Israel to stop being unfaithful. God desired that Israel put away her whoredoms or false doctrine and idolatry. God said, "I will strip her naked like the day she was born. I will make her barren like a desert, and she will die of thirst." They nation of Israel would be shamefully exposed by the Assyrians as payment for their spiritual adultery. The same thing could happen to us because many Christians today are so confused that they accept sodomy, abortion, and false religious doctrines.

If we go a whoring after false gods or false religions even our child will be brought under that unfaithfulness. Even the righteous will have to suffer because of the unfaithfulness of many. It is just so important for us to go back to the Bible, and to teach our children how to study and live according to God's truth. Gomer gave her lovers credit for what she had when it was Hosea that had provided for her. Israel gave Baal credit for what she had when it was Jehovah that had provided for her. False religion has provided man with nothing. The church in the world today is being starved for truth.

Israel refused to thank and honor God -- Hosea 2:6-13 : God promised that He would make the path of His unfaithful people rough and very hard to take. They had used blessings given them by God to serve Baal. Many today claim to serve God yet follow false religions practices. God cut Israel off because of their unholy religious customs. Let us open our eyes before the same thing happens with us. Thousands are drawn into false religions because of an ignorance of scripture. Sadly many so called Christians even love and defend the things that God hates.

God wanted it understood that there comes a time when even a good and faithful husband will finally put his unfaithful wife to shame. The continual unfaithfulness of Israel caused God to allow them to be taken into captivity and He withheld His blessings from them. Is God fed up with our so called Christian world of today?

Israel would suffer the consequences of her spiritual adultery. God said, "Then I will strip her naked in the sight of her lovers. No one can rescue her." Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity and there they were compelled to continue in the spiritual adultery. God said, "I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts." (Hosea 2:11) These are things that would happen to Israel during its exile. They were not allowed to conduct their worship while there.

The very ungodly people that Israel had befriended made their land desolate. The land was deserted and overrun with wild animals. Israel gave God no credit for any of the good things He had done for them. Imagine how God feels when what He has given to people is used to worship false gods or to practice false religions. Israel had dressed in their finest and then went to worship Baal. God punished Israel for the days she spent in service to Baal. They worshipped in ignorance and had none of God's blessings.

Trouble brought hope to Israel -- Hosea 2:14-17 : This begins the beautiful picture of God alluring His people back. As a wronged husband that was willing to forgive his unfaithful wife God would receive back a penitent Israel. If it is your desire to serve God He will receive you back. If it is your desire to chase after adulterous religion God will give you up to that desire. When the unfaithful bride returns to her first love she is forgiven and received back. The word Achor means "trouble." It was the name of the place where Achan sinned at Jericho and brought so much "trouble" upon the congregation. Sin got Israel in trouble, but God's love brought them out. There was a door of hope for God's unfaithful people.

In an unusual expression God said, "And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali." (Hosea 2:16) Imagine the joy experienced by Israel when she is received back by the loving and forgiving God of heaven. Those that return to God could call Him their husband. The captivity of God people brought them from idolatry back to service to God.

Thou art my people, saith God -- Hosea 2:18-23 : When God allowed His people back He also blessed and protected the land. God did not expect His people to go to war to reclaim the land. He would give it to them. God would "betroth" Israel unto Himself. They would not be sent into exile again. God will be faithful to the promises He has made to His people.

God gave the world salvation through Jesus. There is unity of interest in both directions, from God and from the people. The people have a responsibility to hear and obey God. They need a full understanding of God's truth. Physical blessings came to Israel when they returned to God. Spiritual blessings come to those that obey God. Jezreel is the seed that God will sow, and reap. It is pictured in the words, "And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God." (Hosea 2:23) How blessed we are that both Jews and Gentiles are now a part of God's spiritual nation. God had disowned, divorced and scattered Israel. Now God is reaching out to gather us all in Christ.