Knowing the Word in the Minor Prophets: Hosea Redeems His Wife, Hosea 3 and 11:1

In Hosea, the nation of Israel is depicted as a promiscuous wife, an ungrateful son, a stubborn heifer, and an indifferent mother. Yet despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. In this chapter, God announces that after a long period of his absence due to his people’s unfaithfulness, they shall seek him and “David their king.” God will call his son out of Egypt. These are prophecies about the coming Messiah, Jesus.

3:1 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.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

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

Father, thank you that you are the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, who forgives us our sins and brings us into your house as your children. Help us to forgive one another as you forgive us.