Hosea was a prophet to Israel, the northern Kingdom, from 753-715 BC. His life becomes a visual aid for the northern Kingdom.
Hosea and his wife
God told Hosea to take a wife, who was a prostitute, called Gomer. She had children with Hosea, and God gave the names for those children: ‘Jezreel’ because God was going to punish Israel for the massacre at Jezreel; ‘Lo-Ruhamah’ meaning ‘not loved’, as God warns them that God will no longer show love to Israel; ‘Lo-Ammi’ which means ‘not my people’, as God said “You are not My people and I am not your God.” (Hosea 1:9)
Israel guilty of prostitution
After some time, Gomer leaves Hosea and goes back to being a prostitute. God tells Hosea to go find her and bring her back to be his wife again. Hosea then tells Israel that they are like Gomer. God had saved them and chosen them to be His people. At first, they loved and obeyed Him, but slowly they turned away. They began to worship idols and forgot the God who loved them.
Various trials
The Israelites were treating the poor badly and making them slaves. God sent them various troubles, like drought and being defeated by their enemies. He also sent prophets to warn them about what would happen if they kept turning away from Him, and to call them back to worship Him. But the northern kingdom did not return to God, and in the end they were captured and taken away by Assyria.
Turning back to God
Chapter 14 is a message of blessing for repentance and turning back to God asking Him forgiveness for their sin and waywardness. Hosea teaches us how merciful God is toward His people, even toward those who have wandered far away from Him. He calls out to them to return to Him, repent and seek His face. There are always consequences for sin, but God’s love never fails.
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