The marvel of the tenacious grace of God
Hos 1:10-11; 2:1
Before I studied theology, I used to be puzzled by the abrupt transitions in prophetic books. It made no sense to me that a prophet would thunder with harsh words of denunciation one moment only to follow it up with a moving message of grace the next. How can an audience appreciate fully God’s condemnation of sin if the effect is immediately undone by a reversal of judgment? The likelihood is, of course, that these utterances did not follow on each other’s heels when the prophet first spoke them. The warning of punishment had to be heard fully to bring about repentance, whereas the promise of a better future was meant to encourage those who have already tasted disaster. Thus, the original context of the prophecies would have been different from the audience who heard the book as an edited collection in Judah (see my Introduction to Hosea). As a book, it could have addressed those Israelite refugees first who escaped to Judah and have already tasted the judgment and saw those prophecies fulfilled. It could also speak to Judah who would recognise in Israel’s story what could happen to them, too. Regardless, the question remains: How can there be such an utter reversal from a total breakdown of the relationship to complete restoration?
When God’s presence is withdrawn
Seeing judgment and grace juxtaposed like this is meant to make us stop in our tracks. The final line in our last reading indicates a breaking of the covenant (‘you are not My people and I am not your God’, Hos 1:9 cf. the renewing of the covenant in Jer 31:33; Ezek 36:28). The Hebrew of Hosea literally reads ‘I shall not be I AM to you’, playing on the name God used to Moses (Exod 3:13-14), but also indicating the withdrawal of His presence. Indeed, knowing the history of how Assyria overran Israel and took them into captivity (2 Kings 17:5-6) underlines the stark judgment. God has finally run out of patience, compassion and the willingness to wait for repentance. It looks like He has abandoned His people in 722 BC though He rescued Judah from Assyria in 701 BC (Hos 1:7 cf. 2 Kings 18:13-37; 19:1-37).
The reversal
It is against this background that the reversal is introduced. The comparison of Israel’s number to ‘the sand of the sea’ evokes the promise to the patriarchs (Hos 1:10; Gen 22:17; 32:12), a tacit reminder that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (Rom 11:29). God will bring a new start out of the devastation and His people will once again be His sons, part of His family (v.10). The emphasis on ‘the living God’ suggests a contrast with the gods Israel followed who were, in reality, no gods. Moreover, the long division between Israel and Judah (north and south) will be removed and the country reunited under one leader (Hos 1:11), no doubt a Davidic king. Jezreel, which was earlier associated with bloodshed and judgment (Hos 1:4), will symbolise positive growth. The Hebrew for ‘Jezreel’ means ‘God sows’ and in an agricultural imagery, the people are seen as a plant sprouting up (‘go up’) again from the land in that great day when ‘God sows’ (Hos 1:11). No wonder that brothers and sisters are encouraged to call each other ‘My people’ and ‘Compassion’ (Hos 2:1)!
The tenacious grace of God
As so often in Scripture, we see once again that it is not over until it is over. How such transformation can happen will be explained in more detail in the next chapters, but for now we are left with this staggering truth. God is reluctant to give up His people no matter how much they hurt Him. I recently listened to an interview of a woman in an abusive marriage who kept hoping that her husband might change and she gave him every opportunity. Everyone around her, family and friends, kept saying to her to give up and move on but she could not, until the relationship nearly destroyed her, while her husband remained as abusive as ever.[1] We cannot bring about the kind of change in others that saves but can recognise that Jesus willingly let Himself be destroyed to do just that. Only His death could save us from the power of sin, and He was willing to give His life that ours may be restored. What amazing grace and amazing power!
[1] It is important for individuals to get out of abusive relationships and not allow themselves to be destroyed. Those who suffer in such a relationship often take on the role of ‘saviour’ or ‘rescuer’, encouraged by the abuser who can pose as a victim needing help. Sadly, such sacrifice affirms the abuser in their power and only achieves the destruction of the partner.
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