02/06/2022
Men and women today, like the nation of Israel in the time of Hosea, can find that they have wandered far from the Lord, and become abominations in His eyes, but even in such a state His love remains for them, and He patiently seeks after them, and calls them back to Him. Are there those among us who have become whores to the world, similar to how Hosea described Israel? Do we sell ourselves to the highest bidder, and think that what we receive in pay comes from anyone but God? Do we worship false gods as Israel worshiped Baal? Well there is hope because although He will lead them into a wilderness alone, He will speak to them there, and rekindle their faith.
““Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.”
Hosea 2:14-15 ESV
Hosea tells us the story of a wife who sold herself to many men as she sought riches by prostituting herself, but like a husband that still loved her, He was willing to forgive her if she would change her ways. There was hope for her, even in the most debase of lifestyles and unfaithfulness… and there is hope, and a new life for modern day men and women too.
““And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’ For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more.”
Hosea 2:16-17 ESV
God is speaking to Israel in this passage of scripture, but He speaks the same words to mankind today. He calls out to the lost world, and to those who are living in sin, through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, and offers them forgiveness and hope.
“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;”
Revelation 19:6-7 ESV
It is no accident that God referred to himself as the Husband of Israel, and that in the book of Revelation we, as the church, are referred to as the bride of Christ. The stories in Hosea, and in Revelation, both reveal that if we repent, change our ways, and follow Him into the wilderness to rekindle our relationship, and life with Him, that there is hope, and forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 ESV
Our Father holds out His forgiveness to us, and is ready to cleanse us of our most egregious sins. We can whore ourselves to the world, and Satan can tell us that all our hope is gone, but God is like the husband in Hosea who is ready to accept us back; to see us as if we were pure and white as new fallen snow. He has offered His Son for us while we were yet sinners, and by His blood we are redeemed.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
Ephesians 1:7, 10 ESV
So there are those among us, and in the world, who think that what they have done, and the sins they have committed, are so terrible that they could never be forgiven, but that is simply not true. They read in scripture that they have fallen into sins that are called abominations, and think these have doomed them forever, and yet our Lord is waiting, and calling for them to join Him in the wilderness, and to figuratively call Him Husband once more. The question to you becomes this… are you ready to rekindle the relationship you once had? Or, if you have never known Him, are you ready to leave the world behind to join with the saints, and begin a new life as the Lord’s bride? There is hope, there is love, and through Christ there is forgiveness… and eternal life. Can you accept His offer, and take His hand?
“And when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart true to my heart as mine is to yours?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand. And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot. And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he had him ride in his chariot.”
2 Kings 10:15-16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who you sent to redeem us, and to save us from lives of worldly prostitution, worshipping false gods, and all other manner of sin. Thank you for loving us though we were abominable sinners, and for leading us despite our transgressions into the wilderness where we would learn to love you as we should, and call you our God. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us, and is patient, faithful, and forgiving. Praised be your name for the grace you have poured out over us, and the mercy you show us. Wash us clean of our sin through the blood of Jesus, and transform us into new, and righteous, creatures. Remake us in the image of Jesus, and call us worthy on the day of judgement as you invite us to be eternally in your presence. Call us your children, and accept us as the bride of Christ forevermore.
Rich Forbes