The Redeeming Love and Grace of God

The Prophecy of Hosea is the first of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. The Biblical theme of redemptive love and grace flows like a crystal stream through all twelve of these messages we call “Prophecy.” In truth, they are prophetic, for they cast the forward look that takes the people of Israel, and subsequently all of us, through the dark, mucky waters of disobedience, and brings them and us to the other side where the healing waters flow.

In the message of Hosea, the name in Hebrew meaning, “Salvation,” or “He saves,” we find a magnificent portrait of God’s great, unfailing, redeeming love for His people. In an extremely difficult passage to understand, we read that “the LORD said to him, (Hosea) ‘Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her…’” (Hosea 1:2a, TNIV) This resulted in an unhappy marital situation for Hosea, but the Lord would use it as a clear but tragic model depicting His unfailing love and mercy for His people, Israel. This is made clear in the language immediately following God’s instructions: “…for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” (Hosea 1:23b, TNIV) Israel had been terribly disloyal to God by worshiping the gods of the Canaanites. The Lord then said to Hosea, showing His gracious redemptive grace, “Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites.” (Hosea 3:1b, TNIV) This becomes a strong assurance of His continuing redeeming love and deliverance. In this light the story of the first part of Hosea though graphically representing God’s relation to adulterous Israel, it is a strong message declaring the reassuring fact that God’s love is unchanging, redemptive, and it will not fail despite the apostasy of the people, individually and collectively.

Coming to Hosea 11, the imagery changes to a “father-child relationship.” The Scripture states: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” (v 1) We note how this relationship grows through stronger words: “I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” (Hosea 11:4, TNIV) Today’s society, world-wide, is reaping injustice and lawlessness because of the wickedness it has sown. There is one redemptive promise – redeeming love - from God. It is the price He paid in the sacrifice of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. His call is for people to reach up to Him, and in humble repentance and faith, commit their lives to forsake the gods of this world, and live in faithfulness to His standards of holiness.

The words of the hymn penned by William Cowper in 1771 translate all the above into this:

“E’re since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die.”

1.What are the “gods of this world” that have enticed me … us … away from the God who loves us supremely, and whose redeeming love is always available?
2.Do I need to reach out right now and ask God to forgive and cleanse my heart and life?
3.How can I continue to live a life of victory over the enticements of this world?