Hosea

Hosea 1: Sons of the living God

Begin in prayer

Before we hear the names of Hosea's three children, let us bow before the LORD. Ask Him to show us that He judges those who leave Him, and that He promises to call them His sons.

Know that Yahweh, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You judge sin, and that You promise to call a people who left You sons of the living God. Show us Jesus, who makes this promise come true. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Hosea spoke for the LORD to the northern kingdom of Israel, in the years before Assyria carried its people away. The LORD told him to take a wife and have children, and their home would picture how Israel had forsaken the LORD. Hosea married Gomer, and they had three children whose names were messages from the LORD. The first was Jezreel, the name of a place where blood was shed, and the LORD said the house of Jehu would end. The second was Lo-Ruhamah, which tells of mercy taken away, and the third was Lo-Ammi, which tells of a people disowned. Yet the LORD promised to save Judah by Himself, with no bow, sword or horses. He also promised that where it was said, “You are not my people”, they would be called “sons of the living God”.

As you read Hosea 1, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD judges the people who left Him, yet He promises to call them sons of the living God.

Hosea spoke the LORD's word to the northern kingdom of Israel, in the years before Assyria carried its people away. God made marriage a lifelong promise between one man and one woman, and the LORD pictured His bond with His people in it. So leaving Him was like breaking a marriage promise, and Hosea's home pictured it, with a word from the LORD in each child's name. Jezreel was the valley where Jehu had shed the blood of Ahab's family, so the name told Israel that Jehu's house would end. Lo-Ruhamah tells of mercy taken away, and Lo-Ammi tells of a people disowned. Together they undo the LORD's old promise to be their God (Exodus 6 verse 7). Yet verses 10 and 11 promise a people as many as the sand of the sea, called “sons of the living God”. Paul and Peter say this promise comes true in Christ (Romans 9 verse 26, 1 Peter 2 verse 10).

How does Hosea 1 show us that the LORD judges the people who left Him, yet promises to call them sons of the living God?

Each child's name is a warning from the LORD.

Jezreel warned that the LORD would end the house of Jehu (verse 4). Lo-Ruhamah warned that He would no longer have mercy on the house of Israel (verse 6). Lo-Ammi was a name that said “you are not my people” (verse 9). Sin against a holy God has a real cost.

The LORD will save Judah Himself, without bow or sword.

Judah's rescue would come from the LORD their God (verse 7). No bow, sword, horse or army would win it. Nobody rescued by the LORD can say that he saved himself. Jesus saves in the same way, for His cross and His rising are His own work.

Those who were “not my people” will be called sons of the living God.

Verse 10 says the children of Israel will be as many as the sand of the sea. Paul uses this promise for all whom God calls, from the Jews and from the nations (Romans 9 verses 24 to 26). Jesus gives the right to become children of God to all who receive Him (John 1 verse 12).

Memorise

and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’

Hosea 1:10

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, have I left the LORD, and do I need Jesus to bring me back?

When the third child was born, the LORD said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi”, because “you are not my people, and I will not be yours”. That is the judgment a sinful people deserve. Yet the same chapter says that where those words were spoken, they “will be called” “sons of the living God”.

How can a holy God say that to sinners? Jesus took the cost on Himself. On the cross He was forsaken for His people, and He gave His life as their ransom. God raised Him on the third day, and His payment was made in full.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Forgiveness is given to everyone who trusts Him, and Jesus gives them the right to become children of God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD judges sin, and that He promises to call those who left Him His sons. Parents, please explain verse 2, since it says “a wife of prostitution”, and be gentle with any child whose parents are apart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He judges sin and still promises to call a people who left Him His sons, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 Peter 2:10

Lord God, thank You that You judge sin and keep Your promises. Thank You that You promise to call a people who left You sons of the living God, and that Jesus makes this true. Please lead each person here to turn from sin and trust Him. Amen.