Serving Daughter

Hosea 1:6-9

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

Herein is found the sure mercies of God. You can ask me how I know. But at the end of the day, my life is living proof of his power. You speak of living but not really alive. Have I got a better Word for you. See Romans 9:15-18 reiterates a promise made to Moses that his mercy still remains for it is by himself and none other says the Lord of hosts. He is God all by himself nor should he need your help to do it. Could it be that was the whole problem all along. The people sought to take God's place making their own after whatever fashion they could use. Just as the makers themselves had no power so also could none save. Small wonder then at their misuse. The southern tribes were seen collectively as "the house of Judah," a people upon whom mercy comes for so has he willed it. He goes through the list of things in which people often trust much like Romans 8 tells what will separate the believers from the love of Christ. Trust be told, not much. On the other hand, there will be no bow of Israel's strength to save them. There will be no sword drawn among them either of the Lord, of themselves, or of the hired army. Nor will there be any doing battle on their behalf whether for them or against them. So also will there be no horses of the swift and strong coming for these too are fallen. The horsemen too went along with them as in Exodus 15:21 for they know not how to swim. So these also represent the deep places of God that few ones else have known.

By his outstretched hand alone will he do it because they trusted in him. See how Isaiah 14:27 shows the Lord as on the cross, hand outstretched with none to turn it back. History tells how 2 Kings 24:12 came to pass as the kingdom of Judah was carried off for the sins of its' rulers. Then we see Daniel pick up the tale as a vessel of service from far away as Babylon. But we will save that story for another time. For the sake of time, which if you are reading this book, you should have plenty. Though I will serve no insults, I know you are busy. Allow me briefly to go back to the issue that started it all: Joseph. We see him again in prison, saved only by his visions of the Lord. From there, he rose by none other being promoted to the highest position in the land. How many of you know his salvation came by God himself. So also, their deliverance from Egypt came at the end of slavery by none other than himself. They found themselves a new high priest in Aaron by none other than himself. How often we are prone to get it twisted.

Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

Now when Loruhamah was weaned all this came to pass. See it takes some time for have no mercy to grow up. But when have no mercy is done it gives place to not my people. You can almost hear Hosea's voice in the background 'I haven't littered in her for many months; where do these keep coming from.' For we see that only a man with no mercy would leave Gomer to raise his baby alone. Sure, Hosea's presence though, much like the Lord's is in the background keenly felt and always taken for granted. Soon it might not be missed at all. But for the simple fact that few others would remain faithful through all the use and abuse. How often Hosea doubtless peeped around the corner at his whorish wife. Now her sins were no longer suspect but known openly for her husband has no part in it. How faithful was Hosea and how faithful is the Lord no matter where his people stray. If we believe not yet faithful he abides; he cannot deny himself. Now thrice are her children and open her sin. Remember the sin of completion for when it is finished it brings death. Sure, at the moment she and her children are very much alive. But all this conception makes me wonder when she will really be done. For what she has been through and what she has done are merely one long continuing story of how man sees her. So also, it reflects their poor image of God upon this young woman's life. How different from the finishing of God in Genesis 2:2 which came along with rest.

Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

See the baby born and God is talking. At this time, you might be wondering who he is speaking to. Certainly not to Gomer for will barely hear from her husband, much less the Lord. Is it not funny how the way we treat others is reflected in our relationship with God. Don't flirt with the world all week then expect to hear about God. Like Hosea, God does not take no other lovers. How comforting it is to the spouse left behind to know that despite all this, he still has the Lord. More faithful than any man or woman, there when you finally close your eyes and in the morning at sunrise. Oh my friends, when you have only him, he will not let you down. He will yet be found though no others are around. Is it not wonderful to have him in your ear, on your side, all around, has your back so no others can attack. So Hosea found that the God who never leaves is still yet with him. Not to air out anyone's dirty laundry anyway, for some things are best kept a secret between them and the Lord. Though she has denied him and ran away, yet the Lord remains waiting for her to return home. How often throughout Israel's history has the Lord been waiting arms stretched open wide for their return. Even should the mother hen of God gather his chicks under his wings, yet would he receive them. This desire is seen reflected in the "not my people" of God. He may as well have said to them 'I don't know whose you are.' But now they are past the point of no return. The refusal to be their God can almost be seen as shocking. Never in all of history has God refused anything due him. Not his position, his glory, his title for he shares it not with any. Sure, the Savior will come to save his people from their sins. But these won't be there to see it. Just as the gatekeep did not believe he would see God's work in the land of the living, so these also will not be there. Indeed, while the southern tribes returned from Babylon and somehow stayed together, the northern ones did not. Instead, they served those other gods found wherever they wandered. Like the other lover, these also had no pity on the not his people of God. Yet even so, his mercy still remains.