Intro to Hosea

The book of Hosea appears as the first book in the section of the minor prophets in the Old Testament of the bible. It was most probably written by the prophet Hosea who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel.

In my view, reading the book of Hosea is probably very challenging due to a few reasons:

Firstly, is the language that is used in the book of Hosea. As a prophecy book, its language is often poetic with visual imageries used to highlight certain points. Some of the words and places referred to in the book of Hosea requires one to have an indepth knowledge of the rest of the Old Testament. This can make it a challenging book for the first timer. Nevertheless, if one ploughs through all the details, you will get a much better understanding of the book of Hosea and what the writer was trying to say.

Secondly, the flow of the book is neither a narrative or a poem. As a collection of prophetic utterances put together with a narrative on the life of Hosea. As much as God was speaking through Hosea, God was also speaking THROUGH Hosea's life in his marriage to Gomer. This makes it complicated to understand when it seems that Hosea is speaking about his wife when in turn it is also God speaking to Israel.

Thirdly, the reader of the book of Hosea will have to contend whether God did really ask Hosea to marry a prostitute or whether Hosea married a woman who later on in life became a prostitute. While we should keep our minds open to both possibilities, a literal reading would seem that Hosea was indeed asked to marry a prostitute. Other suggestions however do seem to make a case that Hosea married Gomer who only later on in life became a prostitute.

All these challenges however should not deter us from reading the book of Hosea. In it, we see the failure of Israel to acknowledge God and the unfailing love of God in trying to woo Israel back to Him. The message in Hosea is relevant and applicable even for us today. A detailed study of it should enable the reader to see the God of Hosea, the God of Israel and the God of today is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is a God that loves the sinner but cannot condone the sin. He balances justice and mercy, showing his grace to all who would just turn from their wicked ways and idols to seek Him and acknowledge Him for who He is. He does not want our rituals to take the place of a close and intimate relationship with Him.

The message of Hosea is about us returning to God - to a God who is continually wooing us back to Him. God was asking the people of Israel to repent and return to Him. If they did so, he would finally restore them. The same message goes out today.

About Me

Why I started this site was simple.

I am a Christian who accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour in 1996 when I was 15. Today, I am 27 and have recently started a family with my son just turning 1 not too long ago.

Understanding the power of the internet, I would like to leave behind some footprints in the sands of time.

At the same time, this site will help to organise my thoughts as I am currently leading a bible study on the book of Hosea.

My thoughts may be disorganised from time to time so do bear with me.