What is in a name? We think long and hard about what name to give to our children. Sometimes as they grow up we can see how that name "fits" them. Other times we may wonder, maybe we should have given them a different name.
So who is Gomer? Her name means, complete. She is the unfaithful wife of the prophet Hosea; Hosea's relationship with her was symbolic of God's relationship with wayward Israel
Gomer also stood as a symbolic example of Israel's relationship with God. Her waywardness paralleled that of the nation.
But I believe these individuals also are examples for us today. We too are in danger of being like Gomer. We are in danger of turning away from God and His commands.
No one wants to be called a harlot, but when we dishonor God and put other things before him we are in danger of become the same kind of harlot as was Gomer.
Today, examine your heart and be certain that you don't have any other god's in your life except the One True God!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Number 3 Born
Hosea and Gomer had their third child [a son], Lo-ammi, which means "for you are not My people and I am not your God." Wow, why would God tell them to name a child "unwanted"?
Consider this, "How many times has God provided instruction into your life"? How many times have you decided, "I won't obey"? Who decided not to be obedient, you or God?
Sometime we think we can simply run around and do whatever we want without suffering any consequences in our relationships. News stories repeatedly show the surprize of individuals when the are "caught". They can't believe that many are upset with them. They fail to see that actions have consequences
Don't assume on the grace of God! If their are actions which you need to confess as sin to God, do it today. Start fresh, 1 John 1:9 tells us the He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Consider this, "How many times has God provided instruction into your life"? How many times have you decided, "I won't obey"? Who decided not to be obedient, you or God?
Sometime we think we can simply run around and do whatever we want without suffering any consequences in our relationships. News stories repeatedly show the surprize of individuals when the are "caught". They can't believe that many are upset with them. They fail to see that actions have consequences
Don't assume on the grace of God! If their are actions which you need to confess as sin to God, do it today. Start fresh, 1 John 1:9 tells us the He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Total Obedience/Not Particial
Raising three children taught me the importants of "long term" obedience. There were times when the children obeyed if I was watching or just for the short haul but they thought after doing something a few times they didn't have to do it any longer. aka..cleaning their rooms.
Hosea was obedient to God's command, not just having one child but by being the father to additional children.
Hos 1:6-7 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." NAS
The name of the second child was to show that God's compassion has reached a limit. He would not show compassion on Israel. Judah was restored but now my their own strength but by the Lord.
Depend on God, not on your own strength.....be completely obedient.
Hosea was obedient to God's command, not just having one child but by being the father to additional children.
Hos 1:6-7 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." NAS
The name of the second child was to show that God's compassion has reached a limit. He would not show compassion on Israel. Judah was restored but now my their own strength but by the Lord.
Depend on God, not on your own strength.....be completely obedient.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Obeying is Hard!
Obedience can be hard. When our boss give us instructions we must decide to obey or not obey. Often we will obey but if the danger is great or the consequences of our action could have serious impact on our life we might choose not to obey.
Hosea was given a command. Hos 1:2-5 2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord." 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the Lord said to him, "Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 "On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." NASU
God was going to use Hosea's obedience to teach both him and the nation of Israel some lessons. Lessons which can apply to us as well. No, we are not commanded to go marry a woman of harlotry. We are to consider where we place our affections. Are things more important than God in your life?
Gomer obeyed and Gomer had a son named Jezeel (as God instructed). God was showing that he would punish Israel for unrepentance and the sin of Jehu.
Will you obey the hard things that God calls you to do? Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Confess you sins to God, be forgiven and seek to be obedient in all things.
Hosea was given a command. Hos 1:2-5 2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord." 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the Lord said to him, "Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 "On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." NASU
God was going to use Hosea's obedience to teach both him and the nation of Israel some lessons. Lessons which can apply to us as well. No, we are not commanded to go marry a woman of harlotry. We are to consider where we place our affections. Are things more important than God in your life?
Gomer obeyed and Gomer had a son named Jezeel (as God instructed). God was showing that he would punish Israel for unrepentance and the sin of Jehu.
Will you obey the hard things that God calls you to do? Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Confess you sins to God, be forgiven and seek to be obedient in all things.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Word of the Lord
Hosea 1:1 The word of the Lord which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. NASU
If your home is like our home you have a good number of Bibles. Each one containing the Word of the Lord. However, having many Bible sitting around, maybe even on the coffee table, does not provide for us a benefit. We need to pick them up (or a least one of them) and begin to read and apply it to our life.
We will begin to discover the message given to Hosea and how he respond. We will also see how the message contained in Hosea applies to our life.
Today: Ask yourself, what did I receive from God's word today? If you haven't read anything from the Bible NOW is a great time to begin.
If your home is like our home you have a good number of Bibles. Each one containing the Word of the Lord. However, having many Bible sitting around, maybe even on the coffee table, does not provide for us a benefit. We need to pick them up (or a least one of them) and begin to read and apply it to our life.
We will begin to discover the message given to Hosea and how he respond. We will also see how the message contained in Hosea applies to our life.
Today: Ask yourself, what did I receive from God's word today? If you haven't read anything from the Bible NOW is a great time to begin.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
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