Heart in Bloom

This is the first chapter in the newest blog series: Rooted in the Word, which I am sharing through my studying His word.

One thing that I always do before studying the Bible is pray. I pray that God will open my eyes and ears spiritually to His word through the Holy Spirit. I pray for the ability to digest His word, learn from it, keep it with me, and apply it to my life in whichever way He calls me. I encourage you to do so as well before you start reading.

In this first post, we are reading Chapter 1 of Hosea. I have heard of the book of Hosea, but like many chapters in the Bible, I have not read it for myself (until recently).

As I researched this book of the Bible, I learned that Hosea was a prophet. I learned that he wrote this book not only of his own experience and the people of that time, but also about the relationship between God and His people. 

The people, Israelites, specifically Ephraim, had experienced peace and prosperity. Because of this, they became comfortable and morally decayed. They became known for idol worship and ungodly living.

Within the first verses of chapter 1, we read that God is telling Hosea to be with an adulterous woman. He then goes on to speak about how this unfaithful woman, named Gomer, is like the people.

He explains that marriage is a covenant, just as as believers we are a part of a covenant with God. Just as Gomer would break a covenant with her husband, the people have broken a covenant with God by being unfaithful with idol worship and ungodly living.

Within this chapter, Hosea was told to name his children Jezreel (God will scatter), Lo-ruhamah (No Mercy), and Lo-ammi (Not My People). This once again represented how the people were unfaithful to God. They rejected God, and because of this they weren’t His. Through their actions they separated themselves from Him which will cause them to be scattered and face judgment.

It was not that God didn’t want them, but instead He is stating this all as fact. Sometimes we confuse facts with opinions because of our feelings. God is a just God, He is true, good, and He is stating that because they reject Him, they are not His. 

At the end of this chapter there is a foreshadowing of what’s to come for the people of Israel. There is still hope that one day there will be redemption and restoration. A restored covenant. It states “children of the living God”. This is beautiful because knowing the context that they were worshiping idols, but then reading that one day they will again be children of the one and only LIVING GOD. 

Hosea obeyed God. Sometimes our feelings or our own understanding can get in the way of us obeying God. This is not to say go and knowingly marry someone that will cheat on you. However, it is a good example of why we shouldn’t put our own understanding above what God asks of us.

We can miss the point or purpose of what God is doing in our lives when we lean on our own understanding or feelings. This is exactly why we read the Bible for ourselves. It helps us to understand God’s character, it helps us to grow, to be transformed by His word, and ultimately to be more like Him.

God is in every detail and wants good for those who love Him. It’s like a puzzle without a reference picture. He gives us a piece of the puzzle and tells us where to place it. We don’t know why, what it will look like in the end, and it likely doesn’t make sense to us.

But when we love God, we are obedient because we trust that He is in control. We know He is good and just. Our part is to be obedient. He creates and finalizes. 

This gives us the freedom to not worry about all the other pieces or how it all will work out in the end.

If we aren’t careful to obey, we become confident in ourselves, our own ways, and too comfortable, just as the people of Israel did during this time.

Examine yourself and write down anything that you put above God. 

Question 1) What do you find yourself going to instead of going to Him in prayer, for joy, for peace? Is there anything you feel God is calling you to turn away from that doesn’t line up with what He wants for you? 

Question 2) Is there anything God is calling you to do in obedience?

Write it all out on a piece of paper or a journal. Then pray to God and ask Him to expose any areas of idolatry in your life, anything you prioritize over Him. Ask Him to help you, ask for clarity, guidance, and the courage to be obedient, and stay in prayer continuously.