APRIL 28, 2023 IF GOD ASKS YOU TO DO THE UNTHINKABLE, WILL YOU DO IT? HOSEA 1:1-11 WHAT IF GOD ORDERS YOU TO MARRY A PROSTITUTE ?
Hosea’s Wife and Children
“This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel. When the LORD first spoke to Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”
So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, (Jezreel means God sows) for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, (Lo-ruhamah means she has not received mercy.) for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them. Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”
After she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, Gomer conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, (Lo-ammi means not My people.) for you are not My people, and I am not your God. (Hebrew “I am not yours.”)
Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ (Cited in Romans 9:26) Then the people of Judah and of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and will go up out of the land. For great will be the day of Jezreel.(God sows.)”
The Amplified New King James has this to say about Hosea: “Hosea was the son of Beeri and apparently was a citizen of the northern kingdom, which he commonly refers to as Ephraim. From the content of his book it is reasonable to conclude that he began his ministry before King Jeroboam II died in 753 B.C. and may have published his messages in Judah shortly before the fall of Samaria in 722-721 B.C. Hosea’s ministry overlapped that of Amos, who also began his prophetic activity during the reaign of Jeroboam.
The Bible says many things about prostitutes, none of them good. Proverbs 23:27-28 says, “For a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men.” “For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell” (Proverbs 5:3-5 NKJV).
God has always been very careful in advising holy men and women on those whom they should marry. Why then would God deliberately order one of his prophets to marry a prostitute? What a shocking and horrible act for a man of God! Certainly no modern prophet would even consider doing such a thing. Most modern prophets imagine themselves standing before large cheering audiences while they proclaim “Thus says the Lord” in ringing tones. And that’s precisely where God’s idea of prophecy and man’s diverge in vastly different directions.
It’s quite likely that Hosea had grown up anticipating that he would marry a lovely young lady with a voice like a dove and a sweet true spirit. Hosea anticipated that no matter how difficult things would be outside his home, home life with such a wife would be a quiet haven of comfort and peace. Never in Hosea’s wildest dreams would he have considered marrying a prostitute. It’s quite possible that Hosea may already have had his eye on a suitable young lady when God stopped him and ordered him to marry Gomer.
Gomer was the daughter of Diblaim and was one of the most flagrant prostitutes in town. Gomer kept a luxurious establishment to which she lured any man randy enough to come after her. Whenever there was a festival or a harvest, Gomer was always there, enticing young men to prove their manhood with her. The day God ordered Hosea to take Gomer as his wife, Hosea must have looked heavenward and asked, “SAY WHAT????”
God’s problem was that the Israelites had broken their covenant relationship with Him. Forsaking righteousness, peace, holiness, and purity, the Israelites had plunged into idolatry of every sort. No idol or pagan god was too horrible for the Israelites to worship. In such circumstances, how could God possibly get these people to wake up and listen to him? God chose Hosea to do the unthinkable because God knew Hosea’s heart and mind and knew that Hosea would obey Him no matter what.
Hosea obeyed God and married Gomer. Gomer bore Hosea three children, Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, and Lo-Ammi. Forget pouring over books of baby names! God Himself named these three children. “Jezreel” means “God sows.” Concerning Jezreel, God said, “Name him Jezreel, (Jezreel means God sows) for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” Breaking someone’s bow demonstrated that a conqueror had broken the power of the conquered.
Hosea’s second child was Lo-ruhamah, about whom God said, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, (Lo-ruhamah means she has not received mercy.) for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them. Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”
Hosea’s third child was Lo-Ammi.“Name him Lo-ammi, (Lo-ammi means not My people.) for you are not My people, and I am not your God. (Hebrew “I am not yours.”) Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And it will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ (Cited in Romans 9:26) Then the people of Judah and of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and will go up out of the land. For great will be the day of Jezreel.(God sows.)”
APPLICATION: These studies in Hosea are entitled “If God asks you to do the unthinkable, will you do it?” There are many self-styled prophets throughout the world but relatively few whom God has actually appointed. The reason is simple: God’s will for your life may cost you grief and pain. Many times, obedience can hurt. In Hosea’s case, his obedience likely cost him his standing in the community. Assuming Hosea’s parents or other family members were still alive, what must they have thought? What about Hosea’s associates in the temple? Hosea may well have become a social outcast, a laughingstock, and an object of scorn in his community.
In 1958 God called a skinny young Assemblies of God preacher ministering in a small town in Pennsylvania to go to New York City to work with gang members. David Wilkerson was perhaps one of the most unlikely people for such a task. Wilkerson had never been to New York and had no experience whatsoever with gangs. But Wilkerson and his wife were people of great faith, and God blessed that faith. The story of Wilkerson’s early ministry is told in the book The Cross and the Switchblade.
At the time the Wilkersons moved to work in New York City slums, many other preachers were going into the rapidly expanding suburbs where church members were wealthy and finances were no challenge. In the beginning, there may have been many people who mocked the Wilkersons. But before David Wilkerson died, he saw his ministry expand in many directions, including Times Square Church and Teen Challenge. Wilkerson’s books, videos, and speaking engagements encouraged innumerable Christians to leave their comfort zones and enter the work to which God was calling them.
As we consider Hosea and his messages, you need to ask yourself if you are fulfilling God’s call for your life. Has God been calling you to do something uncomfortable, something difficult? Have you been arguing with God that you have no qualifications and that He really should call someone else? Before you go much further with that argument, remember David Wilkerson-no experience, no resources, nothing except the naked call of God on his life. And yet God used David Wilkerson to transform millions of lives. What miracles might God do through you?
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to be willing to be available whenever you call us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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