From around 755 to 710 BC Hosea, at the same time as prophet Amos who with Isaiah and Micah were focusing on the southern kingdom. Hosea was in the north. Sadly Assyria did invade and destroy the northern kingdom in 722 BC, God’s people had not listened.
One of the reasons was that they were spiritually blind. They were blind to their blind spots and they declined spiritually in their relationship with God.
- Their knowledge of God grew less not more over the decades.
The pain of seeing Gomer not being satisfied in knowing Hosea but drifting to know other men is mirrored by the pain of God’s own heart. His people do not know Him. They believe in Him. They sing to Him. They talk to Him. There is evidence that they do know Him. However there is also evidence that they don’t.
“No one is faithful. No one loves. No one knows the first thing about God.” (4 v 1)
“My people are ruined because they don’t know what’s right or true. Because you’ve turned your back on knowledge, I’ve turned my back on you priests. Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God, I’m no longer recognizing your children.” (4 v 6-10)
Like Hosea, alone in the marital home; or like the father scanning the terrain for his prodigal son; God is standing, waiting; for those who have left, for those who have gone their own way and for those who have lost their knowledge of God.
When you get to the end of your life there is one thing you will never regret and that is your pursuit of knowing Him!
Missions Paul 