Even though Israel have suffered the consequences of their unfaithfulness to God, and are now in Exile, God continues to offer them healing and restoration.

Read Hosea 14: 1-9

Hosea prophesied until at least 715 BC, 7 years after Israel was destroyed, so it’s very likely that the last of his prophecies, found in chapter 14 was addressed to the survivors in Exile in Assyria or in Egypt.

They need to return…verse 3 lists the things they need to change their hearts and minds about. They need to repent of following false saviours, repent from their wrong view of God and repent of their self-centred ignoring of the poor.

They need to confess, to admit that they were wrong in their motives and their actions and to ask God to forgive and restore them.

Then God guarantees that they will be healed. They will be people who are refreshed, fruitful and flourishing.

But God is under no illusions. He knows the people so well. So he effectively says, “I know your weakness…putting your trust in things other than God, whether that’s the political and military power of other nations or idols. It’s only by putting me first that you will thrive.”

In verse 9 the prophet adds his postscript…not everyone will be restored and make it back home…only those who make the right choices.

What are the things that you are most likely to use as substitutes for God, particularly when things are tough?

Meditate on the words of Psalm 40, which begins:

“I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. [2] He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. [3] He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.

and ends:

As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my saviour. O my God, do not delay.”

Time is running out! In chapters 12 and 13, Hosea gives Israel a history lesson which underlines his despair that they will not come back to God in the present and so avoid a disastrous future.

Read Hosea 12: 2-14

The poet Steve Turner wrote this brief poem, that neatly sums up Hosea’s prophecy in chapters 12 and 13.

History repeats itself.
Has to.
No-one listens.

Hosea reminds Israel of three ways that they constantly reject God and go their own way, using three characters from their history:

• Jacob, the deceiving cheat, who got himself and his family into all sorts of trouble by not doing things God’s way. (Genesis 27 and 28)
• They REBEL against God, illustrated by the story of Moses, who enacted God’s recue of Israel from slavery in Egypt, only to have them rebel against God in the desert and in their new land. (Numbers 12 to 20)
• They REPLACE God, illustrated by the story of Saul, who became king after the people demanded that God gave them a king so they could be like the other nations. That didn’t turn out well either. (1 Samuel 12 and 15)

Thomas Merton says: “The only mistake that remains a mistake is one from which you do not learn.”

Unfortunately Israel have a history of failing to learn, going their own, God-ignoring,  way, which leads to disaster. Then God raises up a rescuer, who delivers Israel, who then begin the cycle over again. They do not learn…and for them, time has run out.

Hosea is writing these words less than 5 years before Israel is totally destroyed in 722 BC, when the tiny group of survivors is either taken off into exile in Assyria or flee as fugitives to Egypt. Assyria settles non-Jews in the land and the Northern Kingdom essentially disappears from history.

Jesus told a story in Luke 13:6-9 NLT

“A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. [7] Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ [8] “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. [9] If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

Jesus was speaking here of Israel and its system of sacrifice and Temple worship. Sadly, Israel once again failed to listen, to learn from its past, despite God’s constant intervention, and in 70 AD all that was swept away by the Romans.

Look back over your life. How many times has Jesus prayed to the Father on your behalf? How many times has he asked for more grace for you, so that your life can be fruitful? Maybe he’s having to ask right now.

Thank him for his constant grace, for a multitude of second chances and ask him to enable you to live the new life that Jesus has given you in a more fruitful way.

The prophet has been using the image of an adulterous wife to illustrate the relationship between God and Israel. Now the image changes…Israel is like a rebellious child. But there is hope for this rebel…

Read Hosea 11: 1-4 and 8-11

In chapter 11 of Hosea, God doesn’t speak as the betrayed “husband” of adulterous Israel, but rather as the betrayed parent of a much-loved child. Taking the different images a stage further, it might be possible to divorce an adulterous wife, but rebellious children can’t be divorced and even if they could, God displays a great tension that he is feeling in verse 8, “How can I give you up, Israel?”. The rebellious child could be thrown out of the house and the parent have no more to do with them, or the parent could choose the path of painful discipline, followed by restoration and comfort. God chooses the latter path.

It is a great temptation for us to attempt to caste God in our own image, and believe that God should react angrily when let down. God, however, bluntly reminds us that he is the Holy One, not a mere human, and his plan is not to destroy but to save. Israel will face the consequences of their rebellion, as we have said before, in exile and the loss of land and Temple worship, but God’s desire is for a chastened Israel to return to him and , in turn, return to their land and a renewed worship. God’s tenacious love gives them hope.

How can God give them this hope when justice should surely demand that Israel is punished for their rebellion? If Israel is God’s son, then surely God also has in mind another Son, yet to be revealed. Matthew 2: 15 reminds us that Jesus was also “Called out of Egypt” right at the beginning of his life. Jesus is the Son who went on to live, die and rise again so that all could become recipients of God’s grace, those who lived before the time of Jesus being just as much beneficiaries of that grace as those who have lived since. And actually, Jesus changed something else in this prophecy… he could say I am the Holy One AND a human.

Look back over your life at the times that God has needed to discipline you out of his love for you. Thank God for restoring you and changing you.