Fri.’s Devo - Hosea

Read: Hosea 1:1-3:5; 1 John 5:1-21; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 29:5-8 Now we go back to the time of the kings. Hosea prophesied through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. *** The first time God spoke to Hosea he told him to go and marry a prostitute so that some of her children would be born in prostitution. That means that her children might not have even been Hosea’s children. Hosea obeyed and married Gomer. She did become pregnant and had a son God named Jezreel. God was spot-lighting Jezreel, where King Ahab had Naboth murdered so he could steal his land. God wanted to avenge his blood. God was ending Israel’s independence and they would lose it in the Jezreel Valley. It would be here where Jehu would assassinate Jezebel. *** Gomer became pregnant again and had a daughter God named Lo-ruhaman which means “not loved.” God would no longer show love to the people of Israel, but he would to the people of Judah. He would free them, but not with traditional ways. *** Gomer became pregnant again and had a second son. The Lord named him Lo-ammi which means “not my people.” This was saying to Israel that they were no longer God’s people and he was no longer their God. *** Time would pass and Israel’s people would multiply and they would return and become the children of the living God. Then Judah and Israel would become one nation. They would return from exile and it would be called the day of Jezreel. God would once again plant them in their land. *** God told Hosea to charge Israel with being a prostitute. He was to tell her to get rid of her prostitute clothing or he would strip her of it. God will not love her children that were born while she was following other gods. Israel will be lost without help. No one would come to save her. She will lose everything she loved and treasured. *** Then, she will return to the Lord, the only one who loves her and can save her. When she returns, she will not call God her master, but her husband. She will forever give up her false gods. and be faithful to the Lord. God will bless her with rain in season and the earth will respond to her obedience. She will once again become God’s people. *** Hosea was told to go find Gomer and love her again even though she had left him for another man. Hosea bought her back for 15 pieces of silver. Fifteen means a test of grace. He told Gomer she was not to have relations with anyone for a time, not even him. This was to illustrate that Israel would go a long time without a king, prince, sacrifices, priests, or idols. But then, they will return and given themselves totally to the Lord and in the last days they would tremble in awe of the Lord and his goodness. *** First John talks about the time Hosea was referring to. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a child of God no matter if they are Jew or Gentile. Everyone in the family loves one another if they obey God’s commandments and love him. *** God introduced Jesus to the world at his baptism when he spoke from heaven telling everyone who he was. He also revealed to us who Christ was on the cross when he shed his blood. It is the water and the blood that testify who he is. The Spirit is the third witness to who Christ is. Through him we have eternal life. We also have confidence that he hears our prayers when we pray to him. *** We should pray for our fellow believers who fall into sin and pray they will walk in life and not death. This world is full of evil, but we are children of God and can walk in fellowship with Christ. Fellowship with Christ brings us to know God. *** Lord, may we stay away from anything that might take your place in our hearts. May we walk in fellowship with you always and may our light shine that others will want what we have.