- Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And 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 – The people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the time of Hosea’s ministry were so politically and economically secure that they found no “need” of God in their life anymore and choose to worship the idols of the neighboring lands. God, in His efforts to open the eyes of Israel’s sin of idolatry, had his prophet Hosea take on a unique task. Hosea was to marry a prostitute and have children with her. The names of the kids were to be “God will scatter,” “No mercy,” and “Not my people.” All this was to be a visual example to Israel of how they had committed adultery in their covenant with God and what the product of such adultery would be. And while they were scattered and punishment did come for the complete fall of Israel took place just decades later, God brought the message as well that this state of “Not my people” wasn’t for forever. He would bring them back and take them back as His children. God is going to allow us as well to taste the results of our sinful choices. Feelings of distance from Him, a lack of Him answering our prayers, and a lack of protection from the enemy is just the beginning of such results. Know though as believers we are always His children and He will not let us go too long in the punishment. His goal is our holiness, not our condemnation. He desires us with Him as His people, but He will allow us to see the outcome of our choices to turn from Him if that’s what we chase after. Let’s be so grateful that we have a God that instead of leaving us as not His people, He sacrificed His own Son so we could be forever His people. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2940
- When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” So he went… (v.2 and start of verse 3) Not all directions that God is going to give you will make sense. Turn the other cheek. Bless those who persecute you. Pray for the leaders who don’t follow God’s directions themselves. Give your cloak to someone without the expectation of receiving it back. Go to the Middle East and preach the Gospel. Sometimes we’ll never truly understand why God led us down this or that path and that’s alright. What isn’t in question is the purpose or legitimacy of God’s direction, what’s in question is what will be your response? Hosea got the directions no man of God at that time would ever want. Go and marry a prostitute and have children with her. What questions were going through Hosea’s head at that time I’m not sure, but what we do see is his response to God’s rather odd directions. He went and did exactly like God directed him. For you, the directions God is giving you whether in His word or personally in your life with Him isn’t what is on question. It’s your turn to respond. How are you going to respond to the crazy, odd, unreasonable, and sometimes dangerous directions God is going to give you? My advice, just go with it. If God is leading you, He’ll provide for you. I’m not saying it will be easy or safe, but I know if that is the path that God is leading you on, He’s going to walk it with you. It’s more dangerous to not take that path, because if God isn’t leading you down it, you’re walking it alone and away from Him. So even if it seems crazy at the time, follow His lead. He knows the path far better than you do. – Daily DEVO 24
- And the Lord said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” Hosea 1:9 – In 1 John 1:6, we see scripture saying those that say they are with God yet live their lives in total rejection of that statement lie to themselves because they don’t yet have that relationship with God yet. They may say they are with Him, but they aren’t. I believe that’s the same message begin said in this first chapter. Israel is saying they are with God and following Him, but their actions and lives show something very different. God is saying because you have chosen to follow something other than me, while you might think you’re my people, you aren’t. For us, make sure that your life matches your profession. If you say you are a follower of God, then follow God. Let not only your words express who you follow, let your whole story point to the One you follow. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 551
- When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” Hosea 1:2 – “For the land commits…” Sometimes the heavy parts our faith journey end up being mostly for someone else. Like here, the reason Hosea was sent to do what He was sent to do was because the people of Israel needed to repent. Not because he himself was wayward but to use his life as a tool to bring others back to God. Now I’m not saying this didn’t help Hosea’s walk at all nor am I saying that seasons like this for us don’t impact our walk at all. Yet we must settle in our hearts that the pursuit of Jesus in other people is worth suffering for. That we’d be willing to go through a trial or a difficult season solely for the sake of someone else coming to know Jesus. We see that Jesus was willing to suffer and die in order that we could come close to the Father. What are we willing to go through in order to help someone else draw closer to God? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1669
Daily DEVO 