“The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel.” “When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.” 6 Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. 7 Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.” 8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. 9 Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” Hosea 1:1-9 NIV
Almighty God,
What a calling and what a message! Very specific and very final. Your people had been rebellious and would suffer the consequences. Hosea’s children, born over the years following his marriage, named as a permanent reminder of Israel’s spiritual state. The people of Israel would be punished, no longer loved and no longer Your people. While Judah would be saved.
This clearly shows that you are not like a Father who can be won round by a rebellious daughter or son with empty words.. You have drawn a line in the sand and they have gone over it. I wonder what effect it had on Hosea’s children by naming them thus? Israel’s words needed to be accompanied by action, behaving like children of God. Turning around 180 degrees in their faith and practice (repenting) of idolatry. But they did neither.
Unlike the prodigal son they did not return to You, their Father (Luke 15:18-20), at this message so clearly given. And we wonder at those we witness to who will not listen and those of our own family who do not believe. We will keep our hope and prayer alive and yet it is their free will and choice. Sad, but we are eternally grateful that we heard, and believed, and felt the touch of our Saviour. To know we are forgiven, loved and numbered among Your people.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 17th July 2025
According to the editor of The Oxford Edition of the Works of John Wesley, “And Can It Be” was written immediately following Charles Wesley’s conversion to Christianity on May 21, 1738. Wesley had known his Bible well before this time but had not yet experienced affirmation of new birth or the wholeness of grace in his life.
Good to worship with a sound familiar hymn sometimes!
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Lyrics: Charles Wesley