Living an Analogy of Sin

Text: Hosea 1:1-9 Theme: Hosea’s life, his marraige, his wife and children were a living analogy for God’s people. Key verses: “When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, ‘Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.'” (v. 2) “Then the Lord said, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish…” (v. 4). “Then the Lord said, ‘Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to…Israel.'” (v. 6) “Then the Lord said, ‘Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God.'” (v. 9) What God said to me: Dwayne, I go to extreme measures at times to get my message across to my people. Hosea was being faithful to me; yet his life was depicting the unfaithfulness of Israel. An oxymoron? A double standard? Not at all. Your first responsibility is to obey me and not question my ways and will. Hosea met his responsibility. It was not an accepted practice of that day to marry prostitutes and name children such judgemental and dispairing names. No doubt it upset and disgusted many back then who heard of what Hosea had done. That was my way of graphically depicting my disgust with Israel. Faithfully follow me. What I lead you to do may at times confuse and frustrate some around you. Who-besides me-can say whether I perhaps intend to use your non-conventional life decisions to teach this world and my people something about me? What I said to God: Lord God, I appreciate and thank you for meeting with me this morning. Forgive me for missing my time with you the past few days, especially yesterday when I had ample time and opportunity. Thank you for Hosea, who faithfully followed your every command without question. Thank you for loving his wife and children. Thank you most of all for using imperfect people like Hosea’s family and like mine to proclaim your message of holiness and mercy. I willingly submit to whatever you lead me to do today, tomorrow, through all of life.