Day 171 – Hosea: God’s wayward people

“So you will stumble in broad daylight, and your false prophets will fall with you in the night. And I will destroy Israel, your mother. My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognise you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.” Hosea 4:5-6 NLT

Read Hosea 4:1 to Hosea 14:9

The rest of the book of Hosea deals with Israel’s sin and impending judgment. Hosea points out the moral and spiritual decay of the nation. He describes the punishment awaiting the people and pleads with them to return to God. God wanted the people in the northern kingdom to repent from their sin and return to worshipping Him alone, but they persisted in their wickedness.

Israel is described as being ignorant of God, having no desire to please Him. They did not understand God at all, just as Gover did not understand Hosea and the love he had for her. Although judgment and condemnation of sin are prevalent in the book, a strand of love and restoration runs throughout. Even in the midst of judgment, God is merciful and will restore those who repent. Like a loving husband or patient father, God wants all to know Him and turn to Him daily.

Prayer: Father, I cannot begin to understand why Your nation did not turn to You. But I also know that we know the history and know that through it all, You had a plan to reconcile the whole world to You. Thank You that Your love is persistent and that You are a patient and loving Father. Amen.