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Torn
The thing I like about the book of Hosea is the very thing I used to hate. In one verse—unmitigated disaster; in the next verse—unparalleled blessing. A pushing away. A drawing into passionate embrace. No literary signposts.
The reader suffers vertigo. The indifferent bail out somewhere toward the end of Chapter 1, where the first inexplicable emotional inversion takes place. There are divine divorce proceedings: “I will no longer have mercy. … I will not be your God” (1:6-9). Then, affronting our high school English sensibilities: “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea … sons of the living God” (verse 10).
The narrative heaves and lists the whole journey through. No sooner the rhapsody to sands of the sea than this: “Bring charges against your mother” (2:1).
The substance of the grievance is disclosed piecemeal: There has been adultery (2:5). Seems like serial adultery and betrayal (2:13). There is deception, lies (4:1,2), ingratitude (8:4) treachery (10:4). The spurned Lover is full or wrath.
But then the counterpoint of brokenheartedness: “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away” (6:4). “How can I give you up, Ephraim? … My heart churns within me; my sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of my anger …” (11:8).
How can the narrative behave, and yield the Lilliputian coherence we demand? Its paroxysms are the paroxysms of the author himself, who is torn between his justice and his great heart’s love!
And that is why I’m now so glad about this most unruly book. It shows a God who longs for sinners—longs for me. My stumbles he hates, but my repentances he loves. The Almighty is torn, and his torn-ness is my only hope.
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Any parent can identify with those feelings attributed to God. How many of us have been in anger over a child’s behavior and yet a desire to sweep away the consequences for his sake? How many of us when having a child who is missing do not say that we will punish that child but then sweep him first into our arms? How often we would take their punishment ourselves if we could. We who are imperfect, often act imperfectly. God does not. Yes, this God who weeps over his children is a comfort to us.
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Andree, don’t overlook the eschatology of the book of Hosea.
Hos. 1:10, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”
This hasn’t happened yet. In fact Hosea prophesied before the captivity.
3:5 “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD, their God, and David, their king and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.”
In fact, that is what the book is about, the restoration of an adulturous nation.
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Hosea is a favorite of mine too, at first I saw it as gut-wrenching and unbearably sad, poor Hosea! Then I saw it as an amazingly profound love story. God’s love for us ‘Gomers’ is awesome.
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Amen, Contented-Joy.
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