Hosea 12: “Ah, But I Am Rich”

The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hosea 12. Israel boasts of its wealth and prosperity, while YHWH reminds the people that he could easily take it all away. Prosperity does not equate to faithfulness or blessings. This chapter recalls the history of the Israelites, focusing on their ancestors Jacob and Moses. Hosea emphasizes the faithfulness of God throughout this history, despite the unfaithfulness of the people. The book of Hosea is a love story with a twist. It tells how God commanded Hosea, a prophet, to marry Gomer, a wife who would be unfaithful to him. God wanted Hosea to feel firsthand the pain of betrayal as he sent him out to prophesy to the people of Israel how they had been unfaithful to God. Hosea still loved Gomer and pursued her and restored her as his wife. This was a picture of how God pursued Israel despite their sin and rebellion and offered them grace and mercy if they would return to Him.