Religion and Theology: Prophet Hosea - Essay Example

Religion and Theology Prophet Hosea Hosea did not tell much about his background although his prophecy book gives a glimpse into his living. Hosea as a name means salvation probably a reference to the position of Hosea in Israel like an inspiration to individuals who will repent and return to God from his message. As per the command from God, Gomer was married by Hosea. Gomer was described by God as a harlotry wife (Dearman, pp.77). She gave Hosea a daughter and two sons. God used Hosea’s children names and Hosea’s wife unfaithfulness, to give the Israelites a message. In the book of Hosea, he identified those kings who ruled at that time. This shows that he stayed between 755Bc to 715Bc making a modern day prophet Micah and Isaiah. Hosea channeled his early part of his warnings to king Jeroboam 2, one amongst the many from Jehu’s house. As the prophecy against Jeroboam’s descendants involved Hosea’s children birth, it can be finalized that he existed in the north kingdom where his children’s naming would have great impact. Compared to other prophets, Hosea linked the information he relayed with is private life. Through marrying a lady he forecasted to deceive his trust and naming his children names that directed judgment message to Israel, his prophetic word moved from his family life. The repentance cycle, restoration and redemption evident in the prophecy of Hosea and his marriage remained closely attached to our daily lives. The sequence plays in real people’s lives, reminding them that the bible is a collection of statements related to real life situation and not mere abstracts. The scriptures have their way in our daily existence touching on issues that have got impact on all our relationships and action. Built around five phases of restoration and judgment, Hosea brings out the clarity on the repetitious theme that as much as God will pronounce judgment on man’s sinful nature, he will ever reconcile his people with himself. God is Israel’s love, a people’s nation where they are mostly interested in their lifestyle than in direction of God for their living. They shine via clarity against their injustice and idolatry darkness. (Dearman, pp.334). Through the book of Hosea, the prophet of God viewed the people of Israel giving God their backs and going to other gods. The inclination towards idolatry insinuated that these people lived a life that contradicted God’s ways. Moreover, during the Lo-Ammi’s birth, who was Hosea’s third child, God promised to restore his relationship with Israel. God used the personal and intimate language as referred to the people of Israel. He referred to them as sons in contrary to them being wayward. Just to ask, do people know God’s salvation power that is now offered to individuals through Jesus Christ, his son? If they know, have they offered forgiveness or redemption to those in their lives who once had wronged them? The scripture of Hosea does not only give the love of God to those who left him behind, but also gives us a view what restoration and forgiveness entails in a closed relationships. Hosea in his book shows that no individual surpasses a forgiveness offer because no individual sits outside forgiveness offer by God. Undoubtedly, God’s judgment always fall on those individuals who do contrary to his will. The powerful restoration act of Hosea within his marriage set standards high for people seeking righteousness in their lives. Currently, there is corruption of faith and new ideologies have destroyed the roots of what people believed, falling church numbers and other critical issues in the church have brought increasing defiance and stress on what God is and his expectation. There is a money problem, unemployment, crime and many other societal up evils. Politicians appear dishonest and worse as others. Values are fighting and freed and falling are everywhere. All along the subject has been about Hosea while one may think it has to do with the contemporary world. Hosea lived at the times of rages-the fall and decline of Israel. Hosea was an honest, straight talking to the point without hesitation, one called to prophesy at the time of Israel’s life, one who was instructed by God to tell the sinners to reconcile and come back to the right track. The book of Hosea is that which is both historic and rich of symbolism- a type of Jonah where the fish is traded for unfaithful marriage. Hosea is told by God to take gomer as the wife. Some people say Gomer had a past, other say she fell and slipped after marriage. The truth is that Gomer certainly, with Hosea, lived their present. What shocked was a man like Hosea with all his values, very righteous and upright married Gomer a woman who had a past. Gomer is drawn into prostitution and adultery slowly more than a slave of sex and that is the truth for many ladies even presently who should be reconciled by Hosea. Those who sin should be redeemed. If one could imagine how he or she should feel if their daughter or son went into a brothel to get a partner and pay as they earn good money? How would a person feel if he or she was in such a position? Good riddance maybe? Have anyone ever brought a good person at home and have them disapproved? Compared to this situation how Gomer’s situation would have been? Most probably a difficult existence while Gomer is around. In contrary Hosea followed a different way. He was obedient to God regardless of what people said and ridicule to be shunned, pointing fingers and comments. Hosea applied his situation in pointing out that whatever was happening in his life was more or less the same as that of the Israel world and his situation was a reflection to the world. The reflection was the truth that was going on. Here, in a promised relationship like marriage, the people of Israel stayed away from God who helped them from slavery in Egypt and had relationships with other gods. The people of Israel had strayed spiritually where Hosea’s wife had morally strayed. The outcome of parties (Gomer and Israel) was the things which demonstrated clearly the problem and still both proceeded living sinfully. The reality God and Hosea was trying to put across is where one would wake up and find that their love had fled with another man. God’s people were adoring idols and other gods in their search for more while what was needed was nearer to home. Gomer’s children were named after her activities to show the reality of how she strayed. They were given names like unloved and not mine and as they came, the separation grew wider till there was no more contact and relationship. Most people in the world of God today, have sought extra and resulted with less or no relationship. Efforts to restore the affiliation by buying her expensively strays her away every time. The same reality was reflected for the Israelites. Hose’s wife was a victim of circumstance. She was attracted to earthly evils like money, drugs, and sex just as Israel and also in the world of today. Therefore, prophet Hosea acts as a warning and watchman of his nation that rejects God and breaking their relationship with God which is punishable. Their deaf ears eventually lead to ruin as the Assyrians overturn their land taking charge of their land like Hosea’s wife becoming slaves in their own land due to their infidelity. The opposition continued but Hosea was in a position to ask for the death of Gomer as her rejection and lifestyle was bad. Hosea does according to God’s will and takes Gomer back. Hosea had the obligation to look for gomer and bring her back in spite of rejection from family and friends giving Gomer another chance. Forgiveness, renewal and restoration not forgetting the past and excusing it though still opening up and inviting Gomer into the partnership is the way to go. God used prophet Hosea to show how human should be ready to forgive no matter how much one may offend you. Hosea is used to pass message of hope to sinners that they can still find their way back to God through repentance. Works cited Dearman, A. J., 2010. The Book of Hosea. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Read More