Judgement and Mercy

We have started working our way through the book of Hosea. We have seen that the Lord instructed Hosea to marry a wife of harlotry (he married Gomer). Their first born was named "Jezreel" which means "scattered" . It give the idea of being "spread around."

Let’s continue on.

Hosea 1:6-11 6 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, "Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. 7 "But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the Lord their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen." 8 When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 And the Lord said, "Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people and I am not your God." 10 Yet the number of the sons of Israel Will be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, "You are not My people," It will be said to them, "You are the sons of the living God." 11 And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, And they will appoint for themselves one leader, And they will go up from the land,
For great will be the day of Jezreel. NASU

Here we see two more children born. "Lo-ruhamah" which means "not pitied or loved" and "Lo-ammi" which means "not my people". What God is revealing through the names of these three children are the progress of judgement that is set to fall upon the Children of Israel.

The judgement laid out through Lo-ruhamah comes with some degree of hope. In verse 7 it is mentioned that God will have compassion on Judah and will deliver them by His power and not by the sword, bow, battle horses or horsemen. In other words, they will not be saved through the efforts of man but by the Lord.

The third child Lo-ammi, "not my people" shows that God will turn away from His people who have turned away from Him. But again there is hope.... for there will be a time when these people will be referred to as ""sons of the living God."

God was bring judgement upon His people, but He was doing this with a purpose of restoring them to fellowship with Him. We see this in that the second time the name of Jezreel is used in verse 11 it means "planted". God is going to "plant" Israel rather than scatter them.

Are you facing challenges in your life today? Could it be that God is trying to get your complete and undivided attention? If so, return to Him. He will heal and restore.

Explore for yourself

1. How many children did Gomer have? How many did Hosea have? (Who)
2. What was the first child’s name? What did it mean/represent?
3. What was the second child’s name? What does it mean?
4. What was the contrast between Israel and Judah?
5. How would they be delivered? What would not be used?
6. What is the third child’s name? What does it mean?
7. What was the exception?
8. What will change? What will they become?
9. What/who will God appoint?
10. Jezreel has two meanings-second meaning is planted.
11. How will the names change?