The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hosea 1:1-7, “The Word of the LORD which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during 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 harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, 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, ‘Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
5 “On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.’
6 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the LORD said to him, ‘Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them.
7 “But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the LORD their God, and will not deliver them by bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen.’”

Drastic situations often call for drastic measures to extract the sinful from their dangerous ways. Such was the situation that occasioned the Book of Hosea. The people had forsaken the LORD. Divine punishment was due, and the LORD sent Hosea to marry a prostitute that she might bear him children.

The woman Hosea selected for his wife was named Gomer; and she bore Jezreel (“God sows”). By him the LORD had determined to put an end to Israel, and thereby teaching a lesson to the house of Jehu. Gomer then bore Hosea a daughter, Lo-ruhamah (“without compassion”), because the LORD had determined not to forgive Israel’s sin.

The third and last child Gomer bore to Hosea was a son, Lo-ammi (“not my people”). Yet, while the LORD had earlier determined not to forgive Israel’s sin, He ultimately relented and said, “You are the sons of the living God” (v. 10). Therefore, the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel were blended into one family!

As strange as this account might seem to us, we are to learn that the LORD does not tolerate sin! We may find His ways strange, yet, He is loving and works diligently to forgive sin and draw the sinner to repentance and into His love and care. The LORD’s divine love extends even further, as He sent His Son, Jesus, to the cross to die as the Sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. Have you experienced the LORD’s love and forgiveness? It’s far easier than what was required of Hosea. Just admit to the LORD that you have sinned and ask His forgiveness. It is so simple that many stumble over the simplicity. Don’t let yourself stumble. Pray and ask His forgiveness; then trust Him to have forgiven you. He is always true to His Word. You will never be sorry, and He will never leave or forsake you.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom