Q&A: Hosea 1

Hosea 1 - Q&A

Here are some brief answers to our questions from our Sunday evening service.

1. Does this mean we should also make objectively bad decisions if we feel God calls us to or should we view barriers as guidance to avoid some decisions?

It's not a bad decision to follow God. I guess to other people it may "look" like a bad decision (objectively). But we need to remember that Hosea was a prophet in a sense that none of us today are. These were direct messengers of God, the final one being John the Baptist. They all pointed to Jesus. We are not prophets being asked to marry prostitutes or lie on our side for a year like some prophets! If someone says to you "God told me to sell my house and gamble it all on the pokies to show how western society is throwing its money away..." I would advise against that. Why? Because God does not speak today the way he spoke in the past. He does not call prophets now to do such things. (I know some will disagree with this!). But Hebrews says this:

Hosea actually did what God does. He committed to an unfaithful person. God committed to an unfaithful nation. And this brought glory to God. It would have looked objectively bad to others as a decision, but it was good because it was what God asked of Him.

But today, God has spoken once and for all through his son Jesus. We are to teach Christ's way, not to become self-appointed prophets. If God calls us, it will be to serve him, not to preach a new message to people. God calls us to serve as Christ served, love as he loved, give as he gave. Even objectively, I'm not sure how this could be seen as a "bad decision".

Great question - very thoughtful.

2. If a Christian is not allowed to marry a non-Christian, why would God order Hosea to marry someone who doesn’t follow God? To prove a point?

There is debate as to whether Gomer was promiscuous before or after marriage. Perhaps she was promiscuous after the marriage. So he just married a woman who became unfaithful. But perhaps not.

More importantly, Gomer was an Israelite. She was a part of the people of God and completely within the "right thing" to marry another Israelite. Just as it is completely right for God to love an unfaithful people and remain faithful to them even when they are unfaithful.

3. Was Hosea significant and therefore known in his community or was he just a symbol for us rather than people in his time?

He was certainly a symbol for the people of his time (and for us). As we walk through Hosea, we will also see that Hosea was warning Northern Israel, but this was also a warning for Southern Israel (Judah) to say "The same thing is going to happen to you if you do not repent." It was as good as over for Northern Israel. These prophetic warnings were never heeded and Northern Israel fell to the Assyrians. Southern Israel would sadly not listen either and they would fall to the Babylonians.

The question today is: will we listen to the warnings, having seen North and South Israel ignore the warnings? God remains faithful. Will we repent of our unfaithfulness?

4. How did Hosea know the instructions were actually from God?

We don't know. But we do know that in his relationship with God, he was convinced that this was from God. He is also recognised as a prophet of the times, so he did hold the badge of a prophet according to his people, Israel as well. And this is affirmed as we see his book appear in the Scriptures.

5. Given what we learned from this passage, what would you say are some practical ways to honour our commitment to God, particularly in our everyday interactions?

Hosea does what God asks him to do, even though it is difficult. He speaks God's truth to Israel in the way God asks him to. Hosea was gracious in the way he did this. We should also be gracious, generous, loving and kind as we share God's truth with the people of this world, and the people in our own church.

Another practical way, from the Israelite side of things, is to confess our sins. To consider how sin may have crept into our lives and to confess those to God and repent of them.

6. Please discuss the tension of God’s personification H1:6 “no longer show love” vs His immutability [1Jhn4:8] (Divine ‘lisping’ by using words we can understand)

Hosea 1:6 and Hsoea 1:9 seems to say "I will not love you" and "I am not your God". Call it hyperbole if you like, but here is the consequence of rejecting God - you reject his kingship but also his love. However, go to verse 10 and you see the words "Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore..."

Although Israel did everything to deserve the response of "You are not my people" and "I will not love you", which are the expected consequences, there is always a "Yet". God continues to love them. He continues to be their God, although they do not deserve it.

Turn to chapter 3 and Hosea is called to go and show his love to his wife again, even though she is unfaithful. This is what God will do for his people again.

(I'm not sure what you mean by "divine lisping". Possibly a term used in theological discussion about this, but I am not familiar with it, or cannot remember what it means.)

7. Did Hosea understand that God used his marriage to show His love to the Israelites? Hypothetically would he struggle to follow God’s instruction?

Yes and yes. Hosea 1:2-3 outlines the basis of this. God says "Go and do this because of this." and he does it. I cannot imagine it would have been easy. But as much as we think how hard it was for Hosea, we are supposed to be drawn back to consider how hard it is for God to love those who are unfaithful to him. That is the point. Not to dwell on Hosea's challenge, but to dwell on God's challenge in loving his people. How faithful must God be to persist with humanity!