Can We Learn Anything From Hosea?
Preface
This is an unusual piece. It materialized as an initiative of my older sibling Jude Izuka. He inspired my siblings and me to research and write on theological and biblical topics. This piece is my younger sibling, Henry Izuka’s synopsis of the book of Hosea. He has given his consent for it to get published.
Background
Hosea, the son of Beeri, prophesied 785 to 725 B.C. The book was likely written between 755 and 725 B.C. It is the 1st of the 12 Minor Prophets. Other minor prophets were Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah. Also, there were others are Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Like the Book of Amos, the Book of Hosea addressed the people of the northern kingdom — Israel. Its fourteen chapters contain a warning about future events and their interpretation. Consistently, Hosea speaks to the people of Israel about a critical situation. This developed during the years that immediately followed the death of Jeroboam II. Amos had earlier prophesied the disaster that would befall the nation. Those who were “at ease in Zion repudiated him”. They were confident that no evil would ever come upon their land.
When Hosea came on the scene only a few years later, these attitudes had changed. Events had occurred that shook the confidence of even the most optimistic persons. There was no longer a stable government on which the people could rely upon. The line of kings changed rapidly, and often violence followed these changes. Israel kept the peace only by paying an enormous tribute to the Assyrian rulers. Without this, Assyrian armies would invade.
The Assyrian rulers added a policy of taxation to the tribute. This placed more burden on the people. There were those who resented paying tribute to a foreign power. This resentment led to an open revolt. This resulted in repeatedly the Israelite king getting murdered. His assassin would then take over the reins of government. The situation was chaotic, and no one seemed to know what to do.
In their desperation, the priests increased the number of sacrifices. They offered more prayers. They called more solemn assemblies. None of these measures stemmed the downward tide. It was under these circumstances that Hosea became a spokesperson for Yahweh.
The Escapades Of Gomer
The first part of Hosea records the tragic story of the prophet’s marital experiences. Hosea’s wife, Gomer, was unfaithful to him. Three children were born to her, but they were not Hosea’s. Because of Gomer’s unfaithfulness, the prophet divorced his wife. Following her divorce, Gomer did not stop being unfaithful. In those times, her lifestyle was not different from those identified as slaves. But Hosea still loved her despite her unfaithfulness. To rescue her from her lovers, he sought her out and purchased her freedom.
Lessons From Hosea’s Prophecy
Yahweh chose Israel and entered a covenant relationship with her. Israel was unfaithful to the covenant. She forsook the one to whom she pledged her loyalty and now served other gods. Isreal followed the licentious practices of the worshipers of the Canaanite Baal gods. They had contaminated their original worship with the ceremonial rites of Baal worship. Following this unfaithfulness, Yahweh permitted the Assyrians to overrun the land. They carried the people into captivity. Hosea viewed the captivity to bring the Israelites to their right senses. This was unlike his counterpart Amos, who saw the captivity as the end. The end of the captivity saw the Israelites return to their own land. They had learned their lesson. King David subsequently reigned over them.
In later years, Hosea draws a parallel lesson. His relationship with Gomer mirrors the relationship between Yahweh and Israel. He realizes Yahweh used his experience to communicate his will. Hosea believed Yahweh instructed him to marry an unfaithful woman and directed him to make provisions for her moral restoration.
Lesson One — God of Justice… Love and Mercy
Anyone who reads the Book of Hosea might get impressed by Hosea’s conception of the deity. For Amos, as well as for most of his predecessors, Yahweh is a God of justice. He gave laws for his people to obey. The disobedience of these laws must inevitably bring punishment. The punishment matches the wrongdoing. But for Hosea, Yahweh is a God of love and mercy.
We may better understand Yahweh’s nature by analogies drawn from family relationships. One example is the love of a husband for his wife. Another is the love of a father for his children. Speaking for Yahweh, Hosea declares, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” And again, “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim.”
Lesson Two — Punishment, a means of Moral Restoration
Punishment for wrongdoing is necessary. Hosea believes that the purpose of punishment is not to meet the demands of justice. It is rather to restore the ones who have done the wrong. This moral restoration gets achieved by the following. The wrongdoers recognize the error of their ways. They then repent in humility and turn from their evil paths. Hosea thus thinks the punishment is remedial rather than retributive. This expresses Yahweh’s love for his people. Punishment is the last resort to teach lessons that people have refused to learn in other ways. Israel will go into captivity, but it will not be a final or complete destruction of the nation. It will be an opportunity for Israelites to understand Yahweh’s character better. This then enhances their worship when they return home.
Hosea presents the image of the nation as the bride of the Lord. Other biblical books, such as Song of Songs, Isaiah, Revelation, and the Gospels, use this theme as well. They elaborate that sin separates us from God, but his mercy extends to cover us through Jesus. Hosea shows the mercy of God who welcomes back his bride after her time of unfaithfulness. The Lord’s willingness to forgive his bride shows his willingness to forgive us as well. This gesture of Yahweh also illustrates the extravagance of his mercy.
Final Words
The Book of Hosea is a prophetic account of God’s relentless love for His children. Hosea’s prophecy foretells the coming of Israel’s Messiah 700 years into the future. Hosea’s marital life mirrors the relationship Yahweh had with the people of Isreal. Since the beginning of time, God’s creation has needed God’s love, grace, and mercy. More so as being unable to refrain from wickedness. The last part of Hosea’s prophecy shows the restorative power of God’s love. He forgets his people’s misdeeds when they turn back to Him with a repentant heart. Should we regard this story as a parable or a record of actual experiences in Hosea’s home life? My guess is opinions will vary.
Footnote:
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