Mercy is shown

Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’ And to your sisters, ‘Mercy is shown.’ – Hosea 2v1

Hosea chapter one is a listing of the children born to Hosea and Gomer. They have names like ‘God will scatter,’ ‘Not-my-people’ and ‘No-mercy.’ What sad names those are! Every time Hosea saw his children he was reminded that God has scattered the people. He heard the words ‘not my people’ and ‘no mercy.’

That had to be tough. Added to the already difficult task of being married to a prostitute in order to be a lesson of God’s faithfulness he know had to deal with children with these horrible names.

I can’t imagine calling my children or grandchildren name like that. ‘Come see Grampy No-mercy!’

But God wasn’t done. These children were named to show what the people deserved. When chapter two opens we read ‘Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’ and to your sisters ‘Mercy is shown.’’

The Old Testament is full of these kinds of things that Paul calls a mystery. Despite sin and unworthiness God was not done with His people. Though they did not deserve Him they were still His people and He would show mercy.

This is an amazing blessing. It shows God’s character even to those of us alive today. None of us deserve God’s mercy, but He still shows it. Our sins, even those sins we commit after salvation, deserve the full wrath of God. As He showed mercy in saving us He shows mercy dealing with His children in their sin. I think of the prodigal son who sought his independence from his family. Eventually he came home and received his father’s mercy.

Praise God for ‘mercy is shown.’