August 8, 2026 - Hosea 1

Hosea prophesied in the latter years of the northern kingdom of Israel (fell to Assyria in 722 B.C.).  The Lord commanded him to marry, and from that marriage came two children.  Of the first, God instructed, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.  And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel” (1:4-5).  Regarding the second, Hosea was told, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all” (1:6).  Then, there was a third child, a son:  “And the LORD said, ‘Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God’” (1:9).  Pretty dire prophecies, huh? 

But see the final words of the chapter, which follow immediately:  “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, Children of the living God.  And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel” (1:10-11).  Our God just cannot help himself, can he?  He judges.  He holds accountable.  At the same time, so gracious!  So merciful!

There’s no god as great as you, O Lord,

O Lord, my God.

There’s no god as great as you, O Lord,

O Lord, my God.

There’s no god who works the mighty wonders,

all the wonders that you do.

There’s no god who works the mighty wonders,

all the wonders that you do.  –Spanish traditional, Psalter Hymnal 1987