Jesus in the Old Testament, Hosea

Jesus in Hosea.

Hosea is the first and the longest of the group of Books in the Bible that are called "The Minor Prophets.'' The name ''Hosea'' means ''Deliverance'' or even ''Salvation.'' You most likely have heard the name of his unfaithful Wife Gomer. No matter how much she Sinned and was unfaithful to him, Hosea not only loved her but Cherished her as well. Even to the point of going to the Slave Market to find her. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Let us jump into Hosea 1:2

"When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.”

Now hold on a second. God told Hosea to go into the World and become Married to a Sinful Wife. Think about this for a second. The Word declares that we ALL Sin.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23

Genesis tells us that when God looked at us following the Great Flood,

"And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done." Genesis 8:21

None of us are good or Holy.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

We are a people of Whoredom. We have many other gods we Worship. We do many things contrary to what God would have us do. James 4:4 put's it this way.

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Yet, God "told" Jesus, to come into the World, and "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom." Remember, He is our Bridegroom, we are His Bride.

Just like Hosea, Jesus came and did what God "told" Him to do. He took us for a Wife. Yet, like Gomer, we continued to play the Whore and became unfaithful to God. In Chapter Three, we see God tell Hosea, to go to where his Wife had gone, and buy her back.

"And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to His goodness in the latter days."

Jesus came to where we were. In the middle of our Sin, and He bought us, with a price, which is His Blood, and brought us in to be His Wife. He died for our Sins, and raised from the Dead our Spirits into Eternal Life with Him and God the Father.

"You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men." 1 Corinthians 7:23

We see that even though God so loved Isreal, they continuously Sinned and turned away. Yet His Love never fails. It never fades. He will still love us no matter what. Yet there is coming a time when all we know and all we see will be removed. Those that remain unrepentant will run out of time and face destruction. Yet, those God so loves, those that accepted the Marriage to Jesus will be Saved and loved by God. Always. Hosea 11 starts out this way.

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them."

John 3:16-17?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Be careful though. We all have Free Will. You do not have to believe. John18?

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

Even though God loves us, Created us, and wants to save us from destruction and Eternal Damnation, we can still say no. We can still choose to refuse the Wedding. To, reject God and His Plan. To simply, not believe. Remember,

"Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:10

Yes, we were, and continue, to be a Sinner. We continue to Sin and play the Whore. HE came and bought us with a Price, and took us to be His Wife. In doing so, we received the Spirit of Adoption.

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:15-17

There is no other way. There is only Jesus and accepting the invitation to be His Bride. To be the one He paid for with the price of His Blood.

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 2:5

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will heal you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a Sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus and His Sacrifice for me. I believe that He raised from the Dead. I repent my Sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.{2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus is Lord!