Gomer’s Adultery

Hosea was one of the earliest prophets of the Israelites. He lived around 760–720 BC. Under a divided kingdom, the Israelites (the northern kingdom) lived unfaithfully to YHWH God, worshipping other gods. God sent Hosea to warn them with show-n-tell. Hosea married Gomer, who wasn’t a faithful wife. She had four children with other men; each child’s name meant a message. The fourth one was Lo-ammi, meaning “Not my people.” Israel’s adultery of worship of other gods made God say that they were not his people. As such, the northern kingdom went into exile under the Assyrian Captivity in 722 BC.

Peter’s audiences were the descendants of those who scattered because of this apostasy and God’s judgment. When the Assyrians let them leave, they didn’t return to their homeland of Israel. Instead, they scattered and settled in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Pet 1:1). They considered their exile and diaspora as punishments from God.

Peter reminded them it was no longer true.

“You were then not my people [lo-ammi], but now you are God’s people. Once you were not shown mercy but now have received mercy.” (1 Pet 2:10)

God still loved them; they were still his people. Hosea had to show this as well. God said,

“Go and show mercy to her [Gomer] and love her, although she loved other men and played harlotry. Love her as I, YHWH, love the Israelites although they have turned to other gods and loved their idol food.” (Hos 3:1)

This prophecy was fulfilled once when God delivered them from the Assyrians and gave them a chance to return to their homeland. It was fulfilled again through Christ Jesus. They who were far off from God were drawn near to God through Christ. Earlier, Peter said,

“You were a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people of God’s possession – all to praise him, who called you out of darkness to his marvelous light.” (2:9).

God reached out to them again, brought them back to his light, and restored them to their former status: his people. As such, they shouldn’t feel second-class to the Gentiles who were coming to Christ in masses. God still cared for them, the Israelites.

This was Paul’s message in Romans 9–11. The Israelites from Rome who had come to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage and witnessed the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the people on the Day of Pentecost had returned to Rome and established the early churches. They invited God-fearing Gentiles to their congregation. When Emperor Claudius expelled all the Israelites, including the Christians, from Rome, the Gentiles took charge of the churches. When Claudius died and Nero let the Israelites return, they returned to their churches. The Gentile leaders and Christians treated them as second-class Christians. Paul argued that God hadn’t abandoned his people. Salvation belonged to them as well and concluded, “Accept one another as Christ has accepted you” (Rom 15:7). Paul said this was for the “glory of God,” like Peter saying, “all to praise him” (1 Pet 2:10). Gentiles and Israelites coming together gave God greater glory than either of them coming alone to him.

We can’t forget God’s love for the Israelites in our zeal for evangelizing the nations. They are still his people, and we pray they return from their darkness to his marvelous light. Only when the Gentiles and the Hebrews come together into God’s family will the Father be happy.