Heart in Bloom

Before we begin with Chapter 2, I wanted to touch on the first series posted previously. I mention that before I read the Bible I pray and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. However, not everyone knows who the Holy Spirit is or how He works.

When you repent, and decide to follow Christ in obedience, you can receive the Holy Spirit. It is evident by its fruits as well as spiritual gifts – see Galatians 5:22-23. 

The Holy Spirit (who is of God) searches our hearts. He guides us, teaches us wisdom, and reveals things to us that we didn’t notice before. He shows us how we are, and not just on the surface level, but deep within our hearts and thoughts.

God gives us the choice to listen or not. The more we listen and obey, the stronger our connection and growth in the spirit. The less we listen to the Holy Spirit or choose what our flesh desires, the more we turn away from Him.

I pray that this post, through the Holy Spirit will reveal His word to you the reader. I pray that this word is fruitful and you begin to see transformation within yourself. I pray that this post and blog honors God. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

This first section of chapter two is titled “Israel’s Unfaithfulness Punished”. This may vary based on the bible you are reading. I am reading out of both the NASB and ESV versions. I think it’s important to review all translations so you get the overall concept of what is written. NASB is a word-for-word translation, and ESV can be easier to read.

The chapter begins with a display of God’s love for His people. That although the people have turned away from Him, He desires for them to be His. 

As we read, the husband represents God, the mother represents the people of that time. It is symbolic of how the people turned away and were unfaithful to God. They loved idols and desires of the flesh. They forgot that God was the true source of their peace and prosperity. They sought these idols, just as the wife did her lovers.

Verses 1-6 are a plea for the nation to turn away from its idols and wicked ways. Not only is it a warning for them, but also for their future generations. We tend to forget that our actions and selfish desires can affect those who come after us.

In those times, during the separation or divorce process, the wife would be stripped naked and exposed outside. This is because the husband provided everything for the wife. He provided her with food and the clothes she had on. This illustrates how people become more focused on what they have, rather than on the One who provides.

We read that God can take away all that he provided. Just as a husband in those days would take away all he provided for his wife. She would have nothing because of her intentional breaking of their covenant. The wife would be uncovered, naked, and exposed.

The nation was confused and believed the idols provided for them because of their idolatrous practices. However, everything would be cut off because their idols were not true providers. Only God has the power to take it all away, not because He is unloving, but because when His children deny Him, they remove themselves from Him. Without a relationship, how can they truly be His?

Just as culturally, the husband would expose an unfaithful wife, God can strip away everything, expose our sin, and bring us to humility. 

In verse 7, it explains that they would get to a point of realization that they need to return to God, and only God can help them.

God would reveal to them true love, hope, and freedom as He did when they were freed from Egypt. In verse 16, we see this hope of restoration that they would no longer call Him “my Baal,” which translates to my master. Their relationship would be restored, and they would call Him my Husband.  

This chapter is a warning for His people to turn back to Him. He can take everything away, but when all is stripped away, it becomes an opportunity to see God reaching out with the hope of restoration. This shows us God’s character of righteousness, justice, love, faithfulness, and compassion. God wants to restore us, but we have to return to Him.

Think on this Chapter, how God longs for us to belong to Him, for us to be in a faithful relationship with Him, and to be our provider. Yet, just as the people in Hosea, we turn to other things to tell us who we are, what to do, or when we need help.

Question: As you reflect, what desires or idols come to mind that God is calling you to let go of – the things that seem to pull you away from Him?

After you write them down, pray, and ask God to help you recognize these desires and idols more clearly, and to give you the strength to turn away from them so you can draw closer to Him instead.