Daily Devotions
Hosea
"The children of harlotry"
Text: Hosea 2:4
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
The term “Children of Israel” is used so frequently in the Scriptures that we seldom take note of the significance of the title. This phrase was employed in the opening verse of the Book of Exodus (Exodus 1:1).
1. They were called “the descendants of Jacob” (Exodus 1:5).
2. Then they were called “the children of Israel” (Exodus 1:7).
3. God “looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them” (Exodus 2:25).
4. God addressed them as “My people, the children of Israel” (Exodus 3:10).
THE CHILDREN OF HARLOTRY
Israel came very close to being disowned by the LORD God more than once. Hosea noted God’s deep displeasure concerning the children of Israel.
“I will not have mercy on her children,
For they are the children of harlotry.”
Hosea 2:4
1. The first instance when God threatened to cut off His relationship with the children of Israel
a) This occurred in the days of Moses.
b) The children of Israel had recently been delivered from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13).
c) They had just crossed the Red Sea dry-shod (Exodus 14).
d) They even had the privilege of hearing God speaking to them (Exodus 19).
e) Moses had gone up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.
f) The children of Israel made a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32).
g) Moses pleaded with all his might for forty days and nights for God’s forgiveness (Exodus 32-34).
h) God forgave out of great mercy and Israel remained “His people” (Exodus 34).
2. In the days of Hosea
a) “I will not have mercy on her children”
i) This statement was uttered most solemnly.
ii) God would withhold His mercy.
b) “They are the children of harlotry”
i) They had sinned even more grievously.
ii) They added more and more idols to their pantheon of deities.
iii) They did not depart from the sin of idolatry of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (2 Kings 17:22).
iv) They “sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 17:17).
Israel would be carried away from their own land to Assyria (2 Kings 17:23).