Skip to main content

Hosea 1 - 14

Hosea's plea to the northern kingdom of Israel. God anger and disgust was demonstrated by him marrying a prostitute, having children with them, disciplining them and disowning them. WOW!

Hosea 1:5 5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” Yet with all that effort, Isreal was taken into captivity by the Assyrians, never to return again. What a sad moment.

Hosea 2:16 16 “And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’

This is in essence, the center of the Hosea's prophecy. God showing loyalty and faithfulness to a nation that had become rebellious in every sense of the word.

Hosea 3:1 1 And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”

This is a very hard teaching, even in God's perspective, how much more with ad our spouses!

Hosea 7:2 2 But they do not consider
that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face. God shows that he's deeply concerned about the people's sins and he wants to warn them that it won't go unpunished.

Hosea 9:1 1 Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the whore, forsaking your God. You have loved a prostitute's wages on all threshing floors.

Hosea 11:1 1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Hosea 11:9 9 I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.

For God truly wants to love us and not let us go. He wants to be close to us so we can feel his protection and love.

Hosea 14:2 2 Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.

For God is a compassionate God full of mercy and love and wants a holy nation of his own.

Hosea 14:9 9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Proverbs 1 - The dangers of Foolishness

I was reading this scripture this morning and i couldn't help feeling that I often act like this person. Thinking that I don't have to study my bible and put it into practice is compared to someone laughing at you when trouble comes to your life. It sounds cruel but God's standard was never meant to make us 'feel' good. 26 I also jwill laugh at your calamity; I will mock when kterror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like la storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 mThen they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they chated knowledge and ndid not choose the fear of the Lord,

Times of refreshing

What a weekend that has just gone past! The single's ministry saw two men getting baptised on Sunday after church! What a rush!!! I had never dealt with two people baptising at the same time. Truly the bible is true when it says that "repentance brings times of refreshing". Seeing the excitement in those guys faces made me realise how blessed we are at having being "fished out" of the water at such an early age (I was 18 and my wife 14). Through his grace, I've experienced much love and much pain in his kingdom yet through it all, knowing that His Spirit can continue to guide me as long as I stay close to him. The crazy thing about yesterday was the realization that God is definitely moving amongst the churches all around Southern Africa and it felt really good to know we were making news (although small in comparison) of our own. There was almost a sense of disbelief among those who have been doubting whether God can still do miracles. My prayer and hop...

Earnestly seek Him - Call to change

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and mthat he rewards those who seek him. I've read this passage a thousand times and it never fails to ring sound doctrine in my heart. Too often I take it for granted that God is not pleased by mere "Lord, Lord" words coming out of my mouth. Too many times I lack effort in putting structures and plans that will drive me towards Him and His grace. I don't often ask myself "How can I grow in drawing near to God?" or "Does my life truly reflects his existence?". It's so easy to get caught up in the "pattern of this world", so easy to be "polluted by this world" David's charge to Solomon (1Chr 28) 9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, zfor the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be f...