Where does the name Hosea come from?
Hosea is a name that is of Hebrew origin. Its meaning is one that provides hope for those who have lost it; it gives a chance to people who have gone astray to come back to their true home. Hosea simply means “salvation,” that elusive word that many people in this world want to find. Perhaps you have heard of the prophet Hosea, one of the most famous people bearing the name.
Who is Hosea?
Hosea was a prophet from the Bible’s Old Testament. Bible Hosea was a son of Beeri, and he lived and prophesied about Israel and its destruction around 722 BC. At the time, Israel was divided into two kingdoms; Hosea was focused on preaching to the Northern Kingdom.
The Book of Hosea contains Hosea’s prophecies and the story of his marriage to Gomer, a marriage commanded by God to show the relationship between His covenant and the people of Ephraim, the largest tribe in Israel and also referred to as Israel itself.
Hosea is believed to be the very first prophet who used marriage in his book to show the relationship between God and His people. You see, the marriage of Hosea and Gomer was not a smooth one; it was, in fact, quite the opposite. This reflected the kind of relationship that God and the Israelites had at the time.
What happened between Hosea and Gomer?
As a prophet, bible Hosea preached – until the destruction of Israel – during the Reign of the Seven Kings. This was a chaotic period for the Kingdom of Israel, especially in terms of religious beliefs.
During this period, different kings ruled with varying religious positions – that is, they implemented whatever was most profitable for them. Earthly pleasures were shamelessly pursued, and the kings’ – as well as their people’s – spirituality suffered greatly. God was forgotten as the Kingdom turned to idolatry.
Hosea was instructed by God to marry, but the marriage, God warned, would not be perfect for the woman would turn into a prostitute to show the current state of Israel. Hosea married Gomer. There are different opinions as to the nature of Gomer; some say that Gomer was a prostitute even before, while others maintain that it was only during the course of her marriage to Hosea that she became one. At any rate, Gomer was a quarrelsome and adulterous wife.
What does Hosea mean to me?
I have gone through many hardships in life. Like the Israelites, I too have lost my way and my faith. The story of Hosea is perhaps one that best describes my marriage. What comforts me is that the Book of Hosea ends not in hopelessness, but in forgiveness and love. Bible Hosea sought out Gomer and forgave her sins, just as God forgave His people.
I never thought I could find myself whole again and especially not with the help of the Church. But there really is a God, and I feel His love as He gives me the opportunity to live life with faith and trust in His will. When I joined the Church, the pastor gave me the name “Hosea,” and I felt I have truly come home.
