3D Devotional 7.29.2019

Monday, July 29, 2019     A train wreck of a marriage                Hosea 1:2-10
Today’s 3D scripture is from the Old Testament.   It is about the prophet Hosea.   Honestly, it is difficult to follow unless you understand the back-story.   It’s about a crazy marriage arranged by God.   As you read it, here are some tips.  (1) notice how Hosea uses the themes of sin, judgment, and forgiving love. (2) read about this dysfunctional relationship between a long-suffering husband and unfaithful wife.  (30. this “train wreck of a marriage” is actually a metaphor for the idolatrous nation of Israel.
Biblical Background:  Prophet is the author, Hosea. It is reads as personal account of his prophetic messages. Hosea is the only prophet of Israel who left any written prophecies which were recorded during the later years of his life. The Book of Hosea was likely written between 755 and 725 B.C
3D Scripture Reading – Hosea 1:2-10 (NIV):  2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”6 Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. 7 Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. 9 Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God. 10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’
3D interpretation: It is difficult to imagine Hosea's feelings when God told him to marry an unfaithful woman. It reads like a “Jerry Springer episode” doesn’t it?
In verse 1:3, read that Gomer "gave Hosea a son." In 1:6 and 1:8, we learn that Gomer gave birth to two more children, but there is no indication that Hosea was their natural father. From the names God choose for Hosea’s children, you can tell God is angry about Israel's unfaithfulness.
Ask yourself: Hosea may not have had the life he wanted, but he obeyed. God often required extraordinary obedience from his followers. God's reaction to unfaithfulness is no different today than it was in Hosea’s time. He wants our complete devotion. God may ask you to do something difficult and extraordinary, too. If he does, how will you respond?

Mark Condra
Lay Leader