Thank God for His Faithfulness
Thank God for His Faithfulness | Thank God part 3
Today we are finishing our series thanking God for His character. Let’s read Exodus 34:6 one more time as we begin.
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,”
Exodus 34:6
We first looked at God’s mercy—His willingness to not give us the punishment and consequences we deserve. We looked at the Israelites, God’s people, who were on the brink of the Promised Land but fled instead. They wandered for 40 years until Joshua would lead the next generation into the Promised Land. But recall, that wandering was an act of mercy. God could have just let them return to slavery in Egypt, but instead He remained in their midst leading them out of their sin.
Next, we looked at God’s grace—His willingness to give us gifts we do not deserve. We saw that when Joshua was readying his people to take Jericho, they found Rahab who was willing to abandon her doomed city, shelter Joshua’s men, and join the Israelites. That act of turning away from her former life brought about a new life among God’s people. She became honored among her new people. Her story has been told for thousands of years as an act of faith. And, she is noted in the genealogy of Jesus, because she is the great grandmother of King David—the same family line as the Messiah.
For us today, God’s grace and mercy are embodied in the Messiah. Jesus came to us so that all people can receive mercy and grace—the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. But let’s consider that last trait in Exodus 34:6—God’s faithfulness.
We can trust the Lord to fulfill His promises because of His faithfulness.
How do we know God will show us mercy?
How do we know God will give us grace?
It is because He has proven Himself faithful. How faithful is God? Perhaps my favorite story that illustrates God’s faithfulness is found in the book of Hosea.
The majority of Hosea is a series of prophecies concerning Israel and the surrounding areas, but the first three chapters give us one of the most poignant stories in terms of God’s faithfulness. Let’s begin in chapter 1.
Just a quick note before we read it, I’ll be reading from the ESV which, like the KJV, it’s pretty blunt about Hosea’s wife. Other modern translations try to be a bit more tactful, but this story is one of the examples that remind us the Bible is not always G-rated.
A Functioning Dysfunctional Marriage | Hosea 1
When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “God, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom; for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord. So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Hosea 1:2-3
As the story begins, God tells Hosea to do something that seems completely absurd. He is to take a wife who is known for her promiscuity. Now, some theologians have attempted to soften Gomer’s reputation (and Hosea’s decision-making abilities) by saying she might not have been a prostitute right away but would eventually become one. It’s an understandable attempt at empathy, but I believe that empathy misses the point of the story. Plus, the Hebrew is pretty clear. This woman is a harlot. Now, why would God tell Hosea to do such a thing? It is because Hosea and Gomer are going to be a physical symbol and act out a prophesy. We tend to think of prophesying as speaking words, but there are several examples in Scripture when the prophet, or some other physical thing, acts out the prophecy. Jeremiah has several examples, and Isaiah has several as well.
So Hosea is supposed to take Gomer as his wife, and she bears him a son. The next several verses list three children, and again, as an act of prophecy, they are given significant names.
Jezreel is named so because he stands as a warning against King Jehu for his sin at Jezreel. In 2 Kings 10:1-11 we read that in order to gain the throne, Jehu ordered the death of King Ahab’s 70 sons. Their heads were piled into heaps at the gate of the Jezreel Valley.
Next, she has a daughter named Lo-Ruhama which is literally translated ‘No Mercy’. Israel has had a long history of idol worship, violence, and now they are about to learn what it means to lack God’s mercy.
Third, she has another son named Lo-Ammi which is literally ‘Not My People’. Israel abandoned their covenant with God, and now they are no longer God’s people.
These three children are a three-fold testimony against Israel’s sins. Just think about how they grew up with the whole community seeing them as God’s judgement against the community. We don’t read much more about the children, but it appears that when Gomer abandons Hosea, she leaves the children as well. My personal guess is Hosea kept them safe, but they mainly went by middle names. Regardless, what we are to understand is this:
Gomer represents Israel who has abandoned God in favor of idols, wealth, and violence.
Now, the judgement against Israel is set. But, just as those Israelites in Moses’ day, God is not done with them. Read with me verses 10-11.
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.
Hosea 1:10-11
This is an amazing promise from God, but it takes a bit of breaking apart to make sense this far removed from Hosea.
First, the Lord says the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea. This is a direct reference to the promise to Abraham. Abraham was called out of Ur and was promised descendants that would outnumber the sand and stars. That promise was fulfilled in the nation of Israel. God is reminding the people that He is not finished with them, because He will keep His promise to Abraham.
Second, the Lord says where they were called “Not My People” they are going to be called “Children of the Living God.” This particular point harkens back to the ancient polytheistic way of thinking. Even though Judaism is very much monotheistic, the Israelites lived among people groups who believed in a multitude of gods. In fact, part of their sin was worshiping these false gods themselves. Part of this thinking is that if a people are conquered or die out, whatever gods they had are conquered or die with them. God is reminding them that He is the Living God (as in the only true God), and so He is not done with them because His Name is the one that will be magnified.
Third, the Lord says Judah and Israel are going to be reunited, and they will have one head, or king. At the time of Hosea, Israel is divided into two kingdoms, and this is not right. The Lord is going to fix this problem.
Last, the Lord says they “shall go up from the land.” The translation is right, but it might be misleading. Many scholars take this to mean they will return from the Exile (which is about to happen). But, Duane Garrett notes Ezekiel will develop these statements further in his prophecy (chapters 36 & 37). He believes this might be an allusion to the resurrection. “Jezreel” literally means “The Lord sows” so it might be that God is going to sow the seeds for the resurrection through this act of judgement. Now, this is an interesting theological rabbit hole for another day, but the point here is this:
Despite the utter unfaithfulness of Israel, the Lord is going to be completely faithful to fulfill His promise to bless the nations through Israel.
Notice the contrast here. Israel is unfaithful to God, but God is faithful to Israel. Gomer is unfaithful to Hosea, but in chapter 3 we are going to see Hosea faithful to Gomer.
Chapter 2 is a poetic discourse concerning the Lord’s relationship with Israel. It is further explanation for how God will deal with His people. But look with me at chapter 3, and let’s see what happens with Gomer and Hosea.
Faithful to the Unfaithful | Hosea 3
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.
Hosea 3
God tells Hosea to go love his woman again. She is an adulterous. She sold herself into slavery and prostitution. There is nothing in the story that would tell us she was forced into this life. She willingly chose to abandon her family and live the life of a harlot. And yet, Hosea is going to find her, pay the price necessary for her redemption, and bring her home. Hosea’s willing faithfulness to Gomer is completely centered on God’s character, not on his own and certainly not on Gomer’s. Hosea will demonstrate God’s faithfulness to Israel through this act of mercy, grace, and faithfulness to Gomer.
God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our faithfulness.
Look again at verse 2, because it illustrates one of the great truths of Scripture. Hosea takes her in, but he tells her that this act of faithfulness to her is going to transform her. She will dwell as his wife again. She will no longer play the whore. She will be faithful now, just as Hosea will be faithful to her. Hosea will redeem her and that redemption is going to transform her.
When we receive God’s grace, mercy, and experience His faithfulness, it transforms us.
In the last verse we read a great prophecy that centers on God’s faithfulness. The children of Israel are going to return and seek the Lord, they will seek David their king, and they will fear the Lord and to His goodness in the latter days. In Hosea’s day, the people of Israel should have feared the Lord because He was about to bring about a gruesome punishment. They were about to be conquered and sent into Exile. But, in the latter days, the people would return to God, and they would praise Him for His goodness.
This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the son of David and the True King, paid the price for our redemption. Where we were the harlot, unfaithful to the One True God, God came to us and bought us out of our slavery to sin and the devil.
Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 1:19-22
God’s Faithfulness is embodied in Christ | 2 Cor 1:19-22
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:19-22
This passage is sandwiched in Paul’s discussion of trying to return to Corinth, but he makes a significant statement here.
All of God’s promises are fulfilled in and through Christ.
The Lord said He would bless the nations through Abraham’s children. They are blessed because of Christ.
The Lord said Israel would return unified, and they would seek their king. Jesus is their King, and Jesus reunites, not just the tribes of Israel, but every tribe, nation, tongue and people of earth!
The Lord said we would praise Him for His Goodness in the latter days. All His grace, mercy, faithfulness, and goodness have been granted to us through Jesus Christ!
What makes the story of Hosea so hard to wrestle with in a Sunday morning church is that when we read this story, it becomes very apparent where we fit. We are not Hosea helping others find Christ. We are Gomer in need of Hosea to get us out of our slavery to sin!
Jesus has done just that! He came to us while we still were bound to sin and adultery, paid the price for our freedom, and now He calls us to live with Him. We are called to reunite with the Lord who loves us, who cares for us, and who will fulfill each and every promise He has given us.