February 18, 2025

The Book of Hosea is challenging to understand. God gave instructions to Hosea to marry a harlot and have children with her. I've always thought Gomer was a loose woman with many husbands, but according to Matthew Henry, she was probably not exactly as we thought; otherwise, they would have stoned her, and it would have dishonored Hosea to marry a whore, but that's what it says. However, she may have been a big flirt going after many men. This idea makes much more sense, even though it doesn't read that way in the Bible. Hosea was a prophet from his youth, and God gave him a mandate to marry Gomer as an example to Israel and Judah. Hosea was to live out this physical prophecy to show Israel and Judah what was coming.

Hosea gave his children prophetical names. His first son's name was Jezreel, which means seed of God, but also scattered seed of God. The royal family lived in Jezreel, and naming his son Jezreel foretold the royal family's fall. Then Gomer conceived a daughter, and Hosea named her Loruhamah, meaning God will not have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. However, God said He would have mercy on Judah. Then Gomer had another son, and Hosea named him Loammi, meaning God was rejecting them and would no longer be His people, and He would not be their God. This is the point where Hosea predicts the Gentiles were to be brought in as God's children and would also be considered sons of God. It makes sense that when Jesus came and brought in the Gentiles, we would be numbered with the kingdom of Judah. After the captivity in Babylon, the kingdom of Israel would return and join Judah. Now, the question is: Why is the current country of Israel called Israel instead of Judah? Hmm.

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hosea 1:11