"But now call your mother to account, for she is no longer my wife, and I am no longer her husband. Tell her to take off her garish makeup and suggestive clothing and to stop playing the prostitute. If she doesn't I will strip her as naked as she was on the day she was born. I will leave her to die of thirst, as in a desert or a dry and barren wilderness. And I will not love her children as I would my own because they are not my children. They were conceived in adultery. For their mother is a shameless prostitute and became pregnant in a shameful way. She said, 'I'll run after other lovers and sell myself to them for food and drink, for fine clothing of wool and linen, and for olive oil.' But I will fence her in with thorn bushes. I will block the road to make her lose her way. When she runs after her lovers, she won't be able to catch up with them. She will search for them but will not find them. Then she will think, 'I might as well return to my husband because I was better off with him than I am now.' "
(Hosea 2:2-7 NLT)
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In the book of Revelations why does God pour out all those judgments? When you see the seven bowls and seals and trumpets, what are their purpose? For a long time I didn't care much for the book because it seemed a throwback to an Old Testament view of God. It seemed like John, the beloved, got bitter at the Romans for all those times they tried to kill him and eventually for stranding him on Patmos.
But then I noticed something. At the end of many of the judgments John ended the thought with this, "but still they would not repent and worship the Lord their God." All of a sudden I saw it in a new light. All those judgments are not about wrath or vengeance.
They were about giving us another chance. Each time it's like God's saying. "I'm not done with you yet. There's still more who will turn to me. Perhaps this will catch their attention and bring them back home." And then the trumpet blasts and the world is shaken. "That turned some, but most still have not repented. Perhaps this will bring them back." And then the seal is broken and the word is spoken. "Maybe this will show them the way back to me." And then the bowl is tipped and the blood flows.
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That is also what I see Hosea doing here. It is what God also does with us when we play the prostitute in sinning against Him. There are five "I will's" Hosea speaks. I've experienced each of them at some point in my own life.
"I will strip her as naked." I've been exposed. At a pastor's council Rev. Duane Durst said something that struck me as very true. He said that it is very difficult for someone in the ministry to keep a secret sin truly secret for long. Satan wants to expose him to ruin his ministry. God wants to expose him because he is more concerned with our soul than our service. To be publicly exposed is very embarrassing. It is shaming. Hopefully, it is life (or lifestyle) changing.
"I will leave her to die of thirst." This immediately brings to mind a drug addict. The first time there is this great high. There's an incredible rush. But all to soon it is gone and all that's left is... a thirst. The next time the high isn't quite as great. And afterwards... the thirst is deeper. As the cycle goes on the high gets les and less and the thirst gets greater and greater until eventually it kills them. It doesn't always display itself with such dramatic biological consequences, but all unchecked sin eventually kills me with that same thirst. In contrast Jesus said, "those who drink the water I give them will never thirst."
"I will not love her children." A woman was defined at this time by her progeny. Right or wrong they were considered her purpose and fulfillment in life. That is why Rachel told Jacob, "Give me children or I'll die." That is why year after year Hannah could be found weeping at the Temple begging God the same thing. What defines me today? My money? My social status? The product of my work or ministry? Whatever "my children" are I can guarantee that as long as I am living in sin God will not bless it. He will not love it. After all, "What profit is it for a man to gain the whole world and then lose his own soul?"
"I will fence her in with thorn bushes." Growing up every labor day and memorial day weekend my family got together with a few other families we'd go to some state park. I remember one time running through the woods either chasing or trying to hide from a couple other guys when all of a sudden my arm was gashed pretty bad. I stopped and looked around to find myself right in the middle of a huge patch of black raspberry's. Now the things taste great but They grow pretty tight together and the branches are nasty sharp. In every direction except straight back I was blocked off. I guess technically I could have plowed through there with not too much blood but I'm not stupid.
The problem is, when it comes to my sin sometimes we are stupid. No matter what pain it brings I'm determined to plow forward. Eventually the pain, the tears, the loss is to great. I've wandered too far from the path and don't know my way back. I hit the wall. That's the last "I will."
"I will block her path with a wall and make her lose her way." God wants to bring me back home. Time and time again he throws obstacles in my path to keep me from going too far away. But I ignore the shame. The thirst causes me to want more rather than desiring something else. My life is meaningless and empty so I pursue more meaninglessness and emptiness. The thorns cut deep and only make me more depressed or angry. I've ignored your bowls and your seals and your trumpets. But now I've hit the wall. I'll admit it Lord, I've lost my way. "I might as well return to my husband, for I was better off with him than I am now." Take my hand and show me the way home.
