God has a relationship with His people.
That relationship is confirmed with a covenant. God’s chosen people were chosen not because of anything they had to offer, but because of God’s character of love. It is this godly love that is established throughout the collection of writings from Hosea.
As with a number of key relationships there are two parties. As with most covenants the relationship sees one commit themselves to another. What’s fascinating about God’s covenant with the people of Israel is that it is one that is strongly defined by Him seeing the people in a state of slavery and rescuing them with His mighty acts. Not only does He rescue them, He establishes the covenant with them and reaffirms His promise to give them the land He said He would give to their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It’s clear in this covenant that God has done and will continue to do the bulk of the work. All that He reasonably requires from Israel is faithfulness.
In Hosea’s life as well as in his words, God outlines how that relationship has worked out. It struck me hearing the reading of this book time and again that there are two strong themes – God’s faithfulness and Israel’s faithlessness. To be clear, the Israel that Hosea talks to predominantly is the Northern Kingdom of Israel that resulted from the split after the reign of King Solomon. Words are mentioned about the Southern Kingdom of Judah, but Hosea’s words to the Northern Kingdom are very timely, for they take place in the last days of that Kingdom. Hosea talks about what will happen to Israel because of their unfaithfulness.
A good question to ask as a 21st Century reader far removed from the people mentioned in this story is: What unfaithfulness and what does that have to do with me?
She doesn’t realise it was I who gave her everything she has—
the grain, the new wine, the olive oil;
I even gave her silver and gold.
But she gave all my gifts to Baal. (Hosea 2:8 NLT)
Israel’s existence as a people is dependent on God – everything they have and are depends on what He has done and continues to do. Their response has been to take what He’s given them and to use it in their worship of other gods. Hosea is called to marry Gomer, a prostitute who doesn’t quit her night-time job. That leads to heartache for Hosea because of the rebellion of his wife.
Israel display their infidelity in chasing after other gods and subsequently behaving in ways that offend the one who rescued them to adorn them as His betrothed. They even had the temerity to approach God as though everything is alright and not long after go around seeking attention from the foreign gods again. It’s as though they just cannot find it in themselves to remain faithful and Hosea points out that the traits of lacking trust in the agreement with God is typical of their behaviour from the time of their ancestors going as far back as Adam.
The state of Israel is something to read and be dismayed about. It’s really disheartening and the reader can understand why God feels heartbroken and then eager to apply due punishment for their rebellion. You understand that and some would wonder why would God continue with such a rebellious and ungrateful people?
Before we weight in too deep on Israel, though, there is a light shined on our own tendencies. Have we always been faithful? Has our hearts always been inclined to do what’s pleasing to God? Have we truly consistently only ever acclaimed Him as the one who we adore and love and give total allegiance?
As the light shines deeper so we address if we’ve not likewise had others that we’ve tended to run to first and reject God and not want to know Him? Isn’t that somewhat typical of the human condition? Why should God continue with such a rebellious and ungrateful people?
Thankfully there is an an answer to that question …
(Photo by Eric Andrikaitis on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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