“Children of the Living God”

Tuesday, March 02, 2021

BIBLE READING: Hosea 1-2

Hosea’s marriage to Gomer almost immediately produced a child. But the joy of birth was overshadowed by the name God placed on him: Jezreel. Historically, Jezreel was a place of judgment (see 2 Kings 9.6-10: also, Judges 6.33). To further darken the situation, Gomer had two more children from other men (Hosea 2.4-5). How should Hosea feel about these children? What right do they have to his inheritance? Legitimately, none.

The ugliness of Hosea’s circumstance represents the situation of God with Israel at this time (Hosea 3.1). Just as these children had been born from infidelity with other lovers, the people of Israel were both literally and figuratively not God’s people. Many were the result of unlawful intermarriage (Exodus 34.11-16; Deuteronomy 7.3-4), but worse they did not know or treat God as their Father (Hosea 7.8-11). This not only spurned God’s faithfulness but offered Him covenantal grounds to reject their inheritance and execute judgment (Deuteronomy 28.1-68). Israel should have known this but were either aloof or unaware (Hosea 4.1, 6).

God’s position is harsh but understandable. “…you are not my people and I am not your God” (Hosea 1.9b). But notice follows: “Yet… in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” (Hosea 1.10). There will come a time when God has mercy on these children and claims them his own (Hosea 2.23). This immediately begs the question "why?"

Paul quoted this verse in his explanation of the gospel. He revealed that God “shows mercy on whoever he wills” (Romans 9.18), “in order to make known the riches of his glory” (Romans 9.23) to those who were not God’s people by birth but through faith in God’s promises (Romans 9.8). In other words, God’s mercy proves his love for everyone (John 3.16; Romans 11.32-36). Even in the ugliest of circumstances, God’s heart is to claim every person as His child, through mercy and grace. (Hosea 2.23)

We must understand that prophetic accountability to the covenant calls the reader to greater intimacy, not merely desolation. God will have his own special, covenant people and he will not share them with anyone else. Although written to people of times past, God’s has similar expectations for his special people today, but with grace realized (1 Peter 2.9-10). Christ has come and we must not reject him (John 1.17; Hebrews 12.25)!

To appreciate the difficult language of the prophets we must always see the hope of restoration, not just for the Jews but for everyone. Hosea’s language undeniably links this message back to the promises to Abraham (Genesis 13.16; 22.17; Hosea 1.10a) which point forward to the coming of Jesus to reestablish God’s kingdom and people. God’s desire to have a people for his own possession was foreshadowed with Israel (Deuteronomy 7.6-11) but is ultimately for all people to be part of, through his Divine mercy and grace in Christ.

“But God, being rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ… through him we all have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (excerpts from Ephesians 2)

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