Hosea and Marriage
I'm not sure why I chose to study Hosea next, but I'm finding it more of a blessing this time through than ever before. My first thought as I began the book was, "Can you imagine living through life with the names Hosea gave his children?" At the same time, those names may have presented many opportunities to teach about God's love as well as God's justice. And when "No More Mercy" was asked why her father would give her such a name, she could explain that it represented Israel's consequences for not remaining loyal to their God, that one day God would say "I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'" But what spoke to me even more were the verses concerning God's relationship with His chosen people, Israel. And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.