Bible Soundbites
Monday, 12 May 2008 00:00 | and posted in Hosea
The Lord said to Hosea, “Go and marry a prostitute so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshipping other gods.” Hosea 1:2
At first glance, God’s message to Hosea just sounds crazy! But it’s a vivid picture for the people, and for us, of what it’s like for God when we commit ourselves to him and then allow other things to take his place. How must that make God feel?
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 00:00 | and posted in Hosea
God said to Hosea, “Israel doesn’t realise it was I who gave her everything she has… I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal.” Hosea 2:8
Why do you give gifts to others? It is God’s love for Israel that causes him to shower her with good gifts… However, Israel takes the gifts, but completely ignores the giver. It’s like she doesn’t even look at the label on the gift. Worse, she uses these gifts to seduce another lover!
Why don’t you take a moment today to acknowledge the giver of the good things in your life?
Wednesday, 14 May 2008 00:00 | and posted in Hosea
The Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods.” Hosea 3:1
Hosea’s reaction to his wife’s adultery must have gone completely against his natural human response to the situation… Yet taking her back and loving her, despite her continued unfaithfulness, shows the people a lot about God’s unconditional love for them. You might not be asked to demonstrate it in as drastic a way as Hosea, but what do your actions say to others about God’s love?
Thursday, 15 May 2008 00:00 | and posted in Hosea
So I bought her for 171 grams of silver and about 270 litres of barley. Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man..." Hosea 3:2-3
Gomer (Hosea’s ex-wife) has been stripped naked and compelled to stand in front of a crowd to be auctioned off as a slave. Little does she know that Hosea is amongst the jeering crowd and is planning to buy her back… not as a slave, but as his wife.
At Gomer’s lowest point in life Hosea sets her free and makes her his wife once more. What an amazing picture of God’s love for us.
Friday, 16 May 2008 00:00 | and posted in Hosea
The people of Israel have rejected what is good… By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold, they have brought about their own destruction. Hosea 8:3-4
Doing our own thing can seem attractive at times, but sin always causes damage to our at least some of our relationships, whether that’s with God, others, ourselves and/or our world. Choosing to go our own way has negative consequences which God doesn’t always protect us from. Sometimes letting things get difficult is the only way God can help us realise that his way is a better way to live.
Saturday, 17 May 2008 00:00 | and posted in Hosea
The Lord said, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me.” Hosea 11:1-2
When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, they cried out to God and he rescued them, but once things were ok again they didn’t want to know him. It’s easy to see our need for God’s help when life is hard but it’s tempting to think we can manage for ourselves when things are going well. Yet the truth is we always need God.
Sunday, 18 May 2008 00:00 | and posted in Hosea
How can I give you up Israel? How can I abandon you? ... My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong. Hosea 11:8
Hosea takes back his wife and loves her again, despite her unfaithfulness to him. Likewise, God is still passionately committed to you even when we mess up, ignore him and go our own way. His love for you is unending and unconditional. And no matter what, he never gives up on you.