The Book of Hosea ( whose name means “the Lord saves”) is a book of “ G-d’s Redeeming Love for the Hebrew people. The prophet’s life and ministry is an allegory ( a method of telling a story to present a truth) of G-d’s love and rejection by a people He considered married to himself.
Hosea took a wife, Gomer: ( complete – beautiful ) whom he loved unconditionally. Their life was blessed with love, children, joy, and fulfillment until Gomer began to play the harlot. She was no longer satisfied with Hosea and sought love from other sources. Gomer Left her husband and children seeking other things to become complete.
Hosea’s grief represents G-d’s heart-break at His chosen people seeking things to satisfy rather than moving closer to Him.
There are many in the Christian world ( Evangelical community ) that teach that G-d has abandoned His Chosen people ( The Jews ) and replaced them with the gentiles and their church.) Nothing could be farther from the truth. These teachers would have the world believe that the Jews are now a Non-issue and written off by G-d who cannot receive them back as His chosen even if He wanted too.
In the book of Hosea a great truth is revealed if you look closer. Hosea DID NOT divorce Gomer (give her a get) and send her away, rather the prophet says she Left him and her family to seek others. ( Therefore, her later pain and disgrace is revealed.)
According to the Law found in the Book of Deuteronomy 24:1-4 for a woman to receive a divorce the Husband would have to write her a bill of divorcement. If she later left the second man or he gave her a bill of divorcement, she was not allowed by Law to return to the first husband. G-d will never break His own laws. ( Hosea bought Gomer back.) with promises of complete restoration.)
Hosea did not divorce Gomer, no Get was written. Nowhere in the scripture does in even slightly indicate that G-d has written off Israel. ( G-d forbid! ) Hosea declares in chapter 2:14-23 I will Redeem her, I will allure her to me, speak tenderly to her, and restore all she had lost, and I will be her husband as before. V.23 (And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Zechariah 12:10a Declares G-d’s promise to the house of David that He would pour upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications….
As the world watches, Prophecy is being fulfilled every day as thousands of Jews from around the world are making Aliyah ( ascending or returning ) to the land of Israel that G-d promised Abraham centuries ago. He promised He would bring them back to their promised land. ( Not to disown, but to Restore all that the cankerworm had destroyed.) This doesn’t sound or look like abandonment or Replacement, but complete restoration.
As a Christian (gentile) pastor, it is my great joy, honor, and pleasure to teach and lead a congregation who fully believe in the Right of Return and complete Restoration of the Jewish people to their home land. Our heart is knit with the Jewish people and helping with Aliyah is our committed vision.
David Swaggerty, Sr. Pastor, CharismaLife Ministries – Columbus, Ohio USA
