The Whole Story
Hosea 1-3
The first three chapters of Hosea present a
powerful and emotionally charged message about God's love, faithfulness, and
judgment, woven together through the prophet Hosea’s own troubled marriage to
Gomer, an unfaithful wife. These chapters are not only a personal account of
Hosea's relationship with his wife but also a profound allegory of Israel’s
unfaithfulness to God and His unwavering commitment to restore them despite
their waywardness. The narrative is both a call to repentance and a declaration
of God’s redemptive love.
In Hosea 1, God commands Hosea to marry
Gomer, a woman who will be unfaithful to him, as a living symbol of Israel’s
infidelity to God (v.2). This marriage, and the children born from it, serve as
prophetic signs to the nation. Hosea’s children are given symbolic names:
Jezreel (God will scatter), Lo-Ruhamah (not loved), and Lo-Ammi (not my
people), which reflect God’s judgment upon Israel for their idolatry and
rebellion (v.4-9). Yet, even in the midst of judgment, God declares that He
will ultimately have mercy on Israel and restore them, using the names of
Hosea’s children to express the reversal of judgment into grace: Jezreel will
become a place of restoration, and Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi will be renamed
"loved" and "my people."
In Hosea 2, God’s message shifts toward both
judgment and hope. Israel’s idolatry is likened to adultery, and God will bring
judgment upon them, symbolized by stripping Israel of her pleasures and
security (v.2-3). However, God’s heart for His people remains one of love. He
promises to woo Israel back to Himself, as a husband would seek to reclaim his
estranged wife. God will lead Israel back into the wilderness, a place of
purification and renewal, where He will speak tenderly to her and restore their
covenant relationship (v.16-18). The chapter ends with the promise of a renewed
and intimate relationship between God and His people, marked by faithfulness
and joy (v.21-23).
Hosea 3 marks the final step in this
redemptive story, where God commands Hosea to buy back his unfaithful wife,
Gomer, who has fallen into slavery. This act of redemption serves as a vivid
symbol of God’s love for Israel (v.2). Despite their unfaithfulness, God will
redeem them at great cost, demonstrating His unconditional love and commitment
to them. Hosea’s act of redemption points forward to the ultimate act of
redemption through Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our unfaithfulness on
the cross.
Hosea 1-3 reveals a profound message: despite
Israel's repeated unfaithfulness, God’s love remains steadfast, and His desire
is to restore His people to Himself. It highlights both God’s righteous
judgment against sin and His mercy, showing that God is always ready to forgive
and restore those who turn back to Him. Through the story of Hosea and Gomer,
we see a picture of God's unrelenting, redemptive love, a love that pursues,
forgives, and ultimately restores. The unrelenting love of God is seen most clearly
in Jesus Christ who never leaves or forsakes us. Jesus is here, even in Hosea
1-3.
Hosea 1: 1-11, 3:1-5
1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea,
the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of
Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 2 When the
Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a
wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great
whoredom by 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, “Call
his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu
for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of
Israel. 5 And on that day, I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of
Jezreel.” 6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the Lord said to him,
“Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel,
to forgive them at all. 7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I
will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword
or by war or by horses or by horsemen.” 8 When she had weaned No Mercy, she
conceived and bore a son. 9 And the Lord said, “Call his name Not My People,
for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” 10 Yet the number of the
children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured
or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my
people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” 11 And the
children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and
they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land,
for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
Hosea Redeems His Wife
3 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.
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Ezekiel
31:1-14
Discussion Questions
Hosea 1:2–3
Why do you think God commanded Hosea to marry
a “woman of whoredom”? What message is He sending to Israel — and to us — through
this real-life parable?
Hosea 1:10–11
Even in the midst of judgment, God promises
restoration. What does this reveal about His character and His ultimate plan
for His people?
Hosea 2:13–15
God disciplines Israel for her
unfaithfulness, yet He speaks tenderly and offers hope. How have you
experienced both conviction and compassion from God?
Hosea 3:1–2
Hosea redeems Gomer, even after all her
betrayal. How does this act reflect the gospel and the way Christ pursues us?
Hosea 2:19–20
God promises to “betroth” His people to
Himself forever. What does this say about the permanence and covenantal nature
of God's love?
Closing Thoughts
Hosea’s marriage to Gomer is more than a
shocking story — it’s a mirror held up to our own hearts. We are Gomer. We run
after idols. We look for love in empty places. And yet, God sees us, pursues
us, and purchases us. He doesn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up. He steps
into our mess, pays the price, and says, “You are mine.” This is the kind of
love that changes everything — not because we’re worthy, but because He is
good. What would change in your life if you truly believed God loves you even
in your most unlovable moments?
END
Teacher Notes:
Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom
of Israel. He served from 753 to 715 B.C. Under the reign of Jeroboam II, the
northern kingdom had prospered materially but had decayed spiritually. The
people were greedy and had adopted the moral behavior and idolatrous religion
of the surrounding Canaanites.
The Book of Hosea Opens with this:
Groomsmen stand at attention as the music
swells and the bride begins her long walk down the aisle, arm in arm with her
father. The smiling, but nervous, husband to be follows every step, his eyes
brimming with love. Then happy tears are shed, vows are stated, and families
merge. A wedding is a joyous celebration of love. It is the holy mystery of two
becoming one - of beginning life together, and of commitment to one another.
Marriage is ordained by God and illustrates His relationship with His people. Therefore,
there is perhaps no greater tragedy than the violation of those sacred vows.
How does God’s love for us compare to what we
saw in the clip?
- God’s love pursues us where we are – even in the middle of the darkness.
- Like Kevin with the pigeon lady, God invites us to step out of hiding and back into relationship again.
- God's love is patient, gentle, and healing — it redeems.
Unlike Kevin (who is just a boy), God’s love
has the power to restore our hearts and lives, just as Hosea’s love in our
lesson today is a picture of God’s redeeming grace.
Hosea 1: 1-11, 3:1-5
1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea,
the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of
Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 2 When the
Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a
wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great
whoredom by 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,
“Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of
Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the
house of Israel. 5 And on that day, I will break the bow of Israel in the
Valley of Jezreel.” 6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the Lord
said to him, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the
house of Israel, to forgive them at all. 7 But I will have mercy on the house
of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by
bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.” 8 When she had weaned
No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the Lord said, “Call his name Not
My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” 10 Yet the number
of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be
measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not
my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” 11 And the
children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and
they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land,
for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
Hosea Redeems His Wife
3 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.
Why do you think God commanded Hosea to marry
a “woman of whoredom”? What message is He sending to Israel through this
real-life parable?
Gomer's unfaithfulness becomes symbolic of
Israel’s spiritual adultery. Just as Gomer pursued lovers, Israel has chased
after other gods (idolatry).
How are we like Gomer in our spiritual lives
today?
- Like Gomer, we often turn away from the One who truly loves us and seek fulfillment elsewhere.
- We forget God's faithfulness and chase after things that promise happiness but leave us empty.
- Sometimes we go through the motions of religion but let our hearts wander far from God.
- We struggle with loyalty, easily distracted by comfort, pleasure, success, or approval from others.
Where do we chase after lesser loves?
- Materialism: Think money or possessions will satisfy our hearts.
- Approval: Allow people's opinions to matter more than God's.
- Busyness: We fill our time so full that we have no space for God.
- Unhealthy habits: We numb pain or fill emptiness in our hearts.
- Self-sufficiency: We believe we don’t need God’s help.
- Entertainment: Distract ourselves from spiritual hunger with temporary pleasures.
Heartbroken: Hosea deeply loved Gomer, but
she had betrayed him, leaving him for other lovers. Imagine the emotional pain
of having your love rejected, only to be told by God to pursue that person
again.
Humiliated: Culturally, Hosea’s situation
would have been embarrassing. People likely knew of Gomer’s reputation. Obeying
God meant risking ridicule and shame from neighbors who might have said, “Why
would you take her back after what she did to you?”
Costly: Hosea didn’t just forgive Gomer — he
paid a price to redeem her. He bought her back, much like paying a ransom to
free a captive. Loving like God loves costs something — it cost Hosea
financially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Obedient but Reluctant (Maybe): We’re not
told how Hosea felt emotionally, but as a human being, he likely struggled.
This wasn’t easy love. It was a choice of obedience rather than a feeling of
romance.
Human Love Often Has Limits — God’s Love Does
Not. Human love says: “I’ll love you as long as you deserve it.” God’s love
says: “I love you even when you don’t.” People walk away when they’re hurt or
betrayed. God stays and pursues us.
Human Love Is Conditional — God’s Love Is
Covenant. Human love is often based on feelings or what we get in return. God’s
love is based on commitment and promise (covenant), not on our actions.
Human Love Often Seeks Self-Protection —
God’s Love Risks and Sacrifices. People protect themselves from further pain.
God’s love is sacrificial and vulnerable. He risked rejection and paid the
ultimate price through Jesus to redeem us.
Human Love Gives Up — God’s Love Pursues.
Most people would have given up on Gomer. God’s love chases after His people
again and again, inviting us to return.
Just as Gomer lost interest in Hosea and ran
after other lovers, we too can easily lose appreciation for our special
relationship with God and pursue other things that do not include Him.
When we compromise our Christian lifestyles
and adopt the ways of the world, we are being unfaithful.
Repeat this Closing Prayer as you listen to Lauren Daigle - Rescue
Father, thank You for loving us even when we
are unfaithful. Thank You for pursuing us, rescuing us, and calling us Your
own. Help us to turn from lesser loves and return to You — our true Rescuer. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
Just like Gomer betrayed her marriage
covenant, our sin is a betrayal of our relationship with God. It’s not just
breaking rules — it’s breaking His heart.
God doesn’t just forgive — He pursues. Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, and despite
ours, God comes after us with redeeming love, buying us back at great cost to
Himself.
Grace doesn’t ignore sin — it overcomes it. Hosea shows us a love that tells the truth
about sin but refuses to let sin have the final word. In Christ, God gives
mercy where judgment is deserved.
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