Scripture Reference: Hosea 11-14
How could Hosea’s unfaithful wife Gomer ever question her husband’s love? Didn’t he demonstrate it by seeking her out, pleading with her to come home, and paying the price to set her free?
How could Israel ever question God’s love and refuse to respond to it? After all, the nation had not only broken the Law of God; they had broken the heart of God. In the closing chapters of this book, Hosea reminded them of God’s compassion for His people, and he did it by presenting three clear evidences of God’s love.
1. God’s Mercies in the Past
Please read Hosea 11:1-12 for the background to this section.
At least fourteen times in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses used the word remember. Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell address to the new generation of Israelites as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. But why would Moses ask these young people to look back when they were getting ready to move forward? Because a correct understanding of God’s dealings in the past is the best way to be certain of success in the future. Philosopher George Santayana expressed this truth succinctly: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it.”
The prophet Hosea was very familiar with Jewish history, not only what happened but why it happened and how it related to the present and the future of his People. He refers to the Exodus (Hosea 2:15; 11:11; 12:9, 13; 13:4), the events surrounding Jehu and Jezreel (Hosea 1:4, 11; 2:22), Achan and the Valley of Achor (Hosea 2:15), the wickedness of Gibeah (Hosea 9:9; 10:9), Israel’s sins at Baal-Peor (Hosea 9:10), the destruction of the cities of the plain (Hosea 11:8), and events in the life of Jacob (Hosea 12:3–4, 12).
God’s love demonstrated at the Exodus (Hosea 11:1–2). God sent Joseph ahead into Egypt to prepare the way for Jacob and his sons. What Joseph’s brothers did to their brother was meant for evil, but God used it for good (Genesis 50:20). Because of Joseph, the people of Israel were kept alive during the severe famine and were able to multiply in the ensuing years. From this humble beginning, God formed a nation; Moses led that nation out of Egypt in great power and triumph (Exodus 12–15).
Hosea pictures the God of the Exodus as a tender father who freed his son from bondage. The emphasis here is not on Israel, the unfaithful wife, but on Israel, the ungrateful son. (For God as “Father” and Israel as a “son,” see Exodus 4:22–23; Isaiah 1:2–4; and Deuteronomy 32:5). After all God did for His son, he will refuse to return His love or obey His will.
God’s love demonstrated in the wilderness (Hosea 11:3–4). The loving father not only carried His son out of bondage, but He taught him to walk and tenderly cared for him during the wilderness journey. When a child stumbles and gets bruised, mother and father are there to give healing and encouragement, and that’s what God did for His people. He taught them, healed them, and led them; He was careful to lead them as you would a child and not as you would an animal. He bound Himself to them with cords of love, not with bit and bridle (Psalm 32:8–9) or a bunched up yoke.
Read Hosea 11:1–4 again, but instead of noting what God did for Israel, notice how Israel treated God. Like spoiled children, they rebelled against their Father and turned to idols. God spoke to them through His prophets, but the more God called to Israel, the more they strayed from Him! They were happy to enjoy His gifts, but they didn’t want to obey the Giver. He sought to lead them with ties of love, but they said, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” – Psalm 2:3.
Throughout history, whether Jewish or Gentile, human nature is pretty much the same, and all of us are prone to do what Israel did: enjoy God’s blessings, but take God for granted. “My people are determined to turn from me.” – Hosea 11:7 (NIV). “Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters!” – Isaiah 1:4. God set them free and guided them to their inheritance, but within one generation after the death of Joshua, the nation turned to idolatry and forsook the Lord (Judges 2:7-15).
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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