WWJD | Week 4 | Day 1

HOSEA 2:14-23

“But then I will win her back once again.

I will lead her into the desert

and speak tenderly to her there.

I will return her vineyards to her

and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.

She will give herself to me there,

as she did long ago when she was young,

when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.

When that day comes,” says the Lord,

“you will call me ‘my husband’

instead of ‘my master.’

O Israel, I will wipe the many names of Baal from your lips,

and you will never mention them again.

On that day I will make a covenant

with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky

and the animals that scurry along the ground

so they will not harm you.

I will remove all weapons of war from the land,

all swords and bows,

so you can live unafraid

in peace and safety.

I will make you my wife forever,

showing you righteousness and justice,

unfailing love and compassion.

I will be faithful to you and make you mine,

and you will finally know me as the Lord.

“In that day, I will answer,”

says the Lord.

“I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds.

And the sky will answer the earth with rain.

Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries

of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees.

And they in turn will answer,

‘Jezreel’—‘God plants!’

At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites

and raise them for myself.

I will show love

to those I called ‘Not loved.’

And to those I called ‘Not my people,’

I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’

And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”

Reflect

• What does this passage teach us about humility?
• What do you think it would take for you to pursue someone even when they have hurt you?
• How does it make you feel to read a story about God’s never ending pursuit of his people despite them turning their backs on him?
• How can we begin to live a life like Hosea even though we know the task at hand of sharing the Good News is not going to be easy?