Hosea: Prophet of God's Way Home

Introduction

Making poor decisions is a part of life. Poor decisions are the source for experience and wisdom. But sometimes those poor decisions result in having to ask others to give us another chance. Children do this with parents. Spouses do this with each other. Sometimes we ask for a second chance with our employers. Sometimes our pride will not allow us to ask for the second chance. Sometimes we would rather live with the consequences of a poor decision rather than swallow our pride and ask for a second chance. When we make poor decisions in the spiritual realm, the decision is more than just a poor choice. It is sin. And when we sin, we must ask God for a second chance. We mustn’t presume upon God’s goodness that he will forgive us even though we are not sorry for what we have done.

Through Hosea, God has been calling Israel to return. He is willing to give them a second chance, but he wants them to repent of their sin. What words would you use to describe a God who wants you back even though you have offended Him? How would express your thanks for his willingness to welcome you into his presence? Even before we study Hosea, the truth is that we are those who have been welcomed into God’s presence in spite of our failures. He welcomes us with open arms. Let’s express our thanks for his willingness to welcome us into his presence.

Finding Our Way Back

God invites Israel to return. Doesn’t that say something to you about our God? While God has condemned their actions in other parts of this writing, it is at the end that he wants them to know the very thing he wants most—for them to return. God says that Israel needs to do three things in order to return. First, they must confess their sin. The phrase “take words with you” in verse two is the idea of confession. They must acknowledge their sin and their guilt. But this is more than just admitting what we did wrong. Confession is a way of saying that God is right and we are wrong. It is a way of stating our faith. In our confession, we agree with God that our acts were wrong and that His way is the right way. Confession is telling God we love him. It is verbalizing our faith. For in confession, we tell God that he is the only one we want to be near.

Second, to return to God must be a recognition of our failure and an acceptance of the goodness of God. Our problem is sin. What we need is for our sin to be taken away. Our confession is to agree with God that there is a problem. But the words we use after that confession is to ask God to take away our sin. It is a recognition of the gravity of what we have done. And there must be a change in our words. Israel will offer the fruit of their lips. To worship Baal required kissing the idol. The lips that once kissed an idol are now going to be used to give words of love and praise to God. To find our way back to God means that we change our vocabulary and primarily the way words are used. Unkind words do not reflect our confession and change. Complaining and whining words demonstrate our sin, not our faithfulness. How can we find our way back to God if we are complaining? How do such words demonstrate our faithfulness? How can we offer lips to God which continue to speak against him?

The third aspect of finding our way back to God is found in verse 3. There must be a commitment made to God. There must be a giving up of those things which displace God. Israel trusted in political alliances; their military might; and their idols. In order for their to be reconciliation, these things must be set aside. How can God welcome back the one who refuses to give up that which separates? Is God obligated to accept us even though we do not want to give up those things which displace him? When we come to God holding one hand out while grasping something in the other, we are not making a commitment to him. We must renounce that which separates us from him. We find our way back to God through the cross. Let’s take the supper together. This can be a time to reflect on our confession, content of our words, and commitment.

The Character of God

In order for us to find our way back to God, God must be willing to receive us. In fact, according to scripture, we find our back to God at his invitation. He pursues us to bring us back to him. We don’t go looking for him—he goes looking for us. Hosea allows us to see God more fully. Notice verse 4. God will heal them and love them freely. For our desire to repent and offering ourselves to God, God must do something. We can only return because of God. God acts as he does because he is God not man (11:9). By all rights he should destroy. It is God who heals our faithlessness. Sin requires healing. Isaiah 30:26, God is described as a physician. Not only does God love continuously but freely. Our ability to return to the Lord is based on his unmerited favor. Who would take back an adulterous wife (3:1ff) or a rebellious son (11:1ff) apart from unmerited favor and love? In this world, we don’t always get second chances. But with God he gladly offers a new beginning. When we confess and commit to him, then he freely loves us and heals our sin.

But that isn’t all. God is so good to us. He not only accepts us and loves us freely, but he refuses to leave us alone. Verse 5, God is like the dew. If we lived in a drought area, the morning dew would be a welcome relief. That is the nature of God. He brings relief. He quenches what we thirst for. And when God brings refreshment, we change. We blossom and we send down roots. When we come to God, he changes our lives so that we take on the traits of beauty and goodness. God changes us. He makes us into better people. We become attractive and fragrant to others. This is what happens when we find our way back. God changes us so that we become his representatives.

Isn’t our God wonderful? He invites us back. He changes us so that we can demonstrate his goodness. He freely loves us. Look at verse 9. This is an odd ending to a prophetic writing. It is a proverb or a wise saying. Basically, Hosea ends with a warning to the wise. Those who are wise will hear and respond to God’s words. Are you listening and do you need to respond?

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