God’s Word is Sure

They shall answer Jezreel…Hosea 2:22

Jezreel in Hebrew means, God will sow. In Verse 23 we see Hosea’s use of poetic imagery They shall answer Jezreel then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy. 

Hosea also uses the imagery of a husband and wife in his preaching to Israel, Verse 16: And it shall be, on that day, says the LORD, that you will call Me My husband and no longer call Me My Master. Which in Hebrew are the names of the two children of Hosea, chapter 1, verse 6 and verse 7. Strange what we can learn from the references in our Bibles.

Verses 22 and 23 of Chapter 2, come as the conclusion to Hosea’s illustration of a marriage between Israel and the Lord. Notice verses 19 & 20: I will betroth you to Me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in loving kindness and mercy. I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord. Notice the vows reflect the very character of God, Exodus 34:1-6.

Then comes the promise of a brighter future, Verse 22 and 23: “It shall come to pass in that day That I will answer,” says the Lord. “I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil. They shall answer Jezreel. Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy. Then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’”

And you answered: You, Lord, are my God. And now enjoy all of God’s righteousness and justice and loving kindness and mercy, faithfulness. For God is true to His promises!