Hidden Prophets of the Bible: Finding the Gospel in Hosea through Malachi

Top Highlights

“The name of Hosea’s first child was Jezreel, meaning ‘God scatters.’ But through faith in Jesus Christ, God is now gathering people ‘from every tribe and language and people and nation’ (Revelation 5:9). The name of Hosea’s second child was Lo-Ruhamah, meaning ‘not loved.’ But Jesus reverses this meaning as well, because ‘God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8). And the name of Hosea’s third child was Lo-Ammi, meaning ‘not my people.’ This dissolution of the relationship is reversed through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ on our behalf, so that now those who trust in him ‘are the people of God’ (1 Peter 2:10).” (source)

“Of the sixteen biblical prophets who have books named after them in the Bible, Hosea is the only one who actually lived in the northern kingdom of Israel.” (source)

“If it was against God’s law for Hosea to marry a woman who was characteristically unfaithful, then it would be against God’s law for God himself to enter into any relationship with any human being—ever—for we are also characteristically unfaithful! The union of a faithful, long-suffering relationship partner with one who is relentlessly unfaithful is, after all, the main point of Hosea’s acted-out prophecy.” (source)

“The fact that our relationship with God is based on his own perfection and not on our imperfection should give us tremendous confidence. We are justified in doubting our relationship with God only if we could imagine God being dissatisfied with the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our representative.” (source)