Lesson 3: Hosea
Although Hosea proclaimed judgment against God’s people at around the same time as Amos, he certainly offered more hope. In fact, his ideas lay the groundwork for Jesus’ ministry.
Hosea links divine judgment much more to Israel’s seeking security from alliances with the political empires of the day. One of his images is of her flitting back and forth like a silly bird between Egypt and Assyria. Relying on this kind of power will lead to the horror of war, when she will see the enemy beat the heads of her children against rocks and rip open the pregnant women. From Hosea’s perspective, Assyria’s crushing of Israel and deporting many of her people in 722 BC was God’s judgment.
Hosea also emphasized sexual more than commercial immorality. That included both personal and cultic practices, what people did in their bedrooms as well as at pagan temples. The latter featured sexual prostitution that was a form of sympathetic magic that promised fertility in all areas of life.
Ironically, this led to images that offered hope. Not that the prostitution guaranteed fertility, but that the familial depictions pictured a merciful God.
Two such images pervade the book: the love a husband has for his wife, and the love a mother has for her child. Both teach the same message as Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son.
In the first part of the book, Hosea pictures God as a husband who cannot give up on his unfaithful wife. He tries all sorts of actions such as fencing her up, buying her back, and even supplying money so she has care when with her lovers. Although she returns when she realizes she has it better with her husband, she soon is off again.
In chapter 11, the image changes to a mother who gives birth, trains, feeds, and cares in all sorts of intimate ways for her child. Even though her child is wayward, her love keeps her working for his reform.
Both of these images picture God having every reason to give up on Israel but not able to bring himself to do that because he loves her so much. This picture of suffering love prepares the way for Jesus’ Passion. You get the idea that God will not give up until his people eventually come to their senses.
The first thing Hosea offers us is hope. We feel helpless to overcome the deep divisions in our society. Hosea promises God is always there waiting for us. However, he warns us not to base that hope on political or military power. The current administration promises peace by threatening to use its might to destroy any opposition. Its response to the murder of Charlie Kirk maintains it proves democrats and republicans are at war, a call to violence.
Hosea claims hope is found in the justice, fairness, kindness , love, forgiveness, and faithfulness that God promises. His book ends with “Israel, you have rejected me, but my anger is gone; I will heal you and love you without limit… I am the Lord, and I lead you along the right path. If you obey me, we will walk together.“ Then he adds “but if you are wicked, you will stumble.”
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