Hosea 2

{This is a beautiful chapter with one of my favorite verses. } As a proclaimer of the will of God, Hosea is living God’s prophecy for Israel in real-time with his family. Gomer leaves Hosea for other lovers; Israel leaves God for other gods. Gomer/Israel sees all of her needs being met and credits that to gifts and “wages” from others, instead of provisions from the hand of her loving God. So God tries, convicts, and punishes her. But He already has reconciliation in mind. Plans to turn The valley of Achor, which means trouble, the trouble she got herself into, (Joshua 7:26) into a door of hope. No more calling “my God”, because that name has been sullied by her constant chasing after other gods, but My Husband. A foreshadowing of the New Covenant through Jesus.

Gomer/Israel has everything provided for her-food, water, clothes, protection, finery, and entertainment. But she fails to see that it’s from God, who loves her; who gives her all of these things, and layers on gifts of silver and gold besides. Instead, she runs to the ones who use her, and spends these precious metals on her pursuit of other gods. God, who is long suffering, puts thorns and walls in her way (always providing a way of escape from sin) to keep her near, but she forces her way through into sin. All of the trouble she finds herself in, compared to Achan from Joshua 7; yet God always waiting to turn the valley of trouble into a door of hope. 

This chapter changes me by showing me God’s heart. Even in my sin, even while pouring out justice through discipline, He is looking for a way to draw me back. God speaks of a day when He will give us peace and safety, rest from the constant running after other gods. He will enclose us in His arms with righteousness, justice, steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness. He will speak from heaven and we in turn will answer from earth.  That day was fulfilled in Jesus, who plants us, through the New Covenant, in a land that He secured through His worthy sacrifice.