Jezreel, No Mercy, and Not My People

The book of Hosea shows so much wrath from God and his dealings with the unfaithfulness of Israel, yet it is all done in love. God chose the people of Israel. They were special to God above all other nations. The relationship that they had was unlike any other. God's wrath was done out of love, chasing after His people in a righteous jealousy.
The first time God ever spoke through Hosea, He told him to take for himself a wife of whoredom and to have children of whoredom. God had Hosea do this because Israel had forsaken him. The book says that Hosea's wife, Gomer, conceived and bore two sons and a daughter. In vs. 3 it says, "So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son." In vs. 6 and 8 it says again that she conceived and bore a daughter and another son. Of the 3 children that she bore, the first is the only one that appears to be Hosea's child. It said that she bore him a son. The 2nd and 3rd times it only says that she conceived. Knowing Gomer's reputation it wouldn't be a long shot to say that she had some illegitimate children. Also, this would be an accurate parallel with the nation of Israel. God's wrath is apparent in the names that he commands Hosea to give his children. The first child was to be named Jezreel. Jehu, who was king at the time killed a lot of people. God was going to punish "the house of Jehu" for the blood of Jezreel. Jehu killed Ahab and his family, friends, and officials as well as Jezebel in the land of Jezreel. Thus the child was named Jezreel. The second child was the daughter named "No Mercy". God said in vs. 6, "Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all." In vs. 8 it says that when Gomer had weaned No Mercy, that she conceived again and bore a son. God had Hosea name this child Not My People, "for you are not my people, and I am not your God." Those words are harsh considering that this is the nation that was chosen by God. This was the nation God loved. He had mercy on them for so long, but they were unrepentant and unfaithful. Hebrews 12:6 says, "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” God may seem like He is done with the nation, but this is not the case. He disciplines because he loves. He chastises those who He has received. Remember, this is only the first chapter. The story is not over yet.
The parallel is not just between the nation of Israel and God vs. Hosea and Gomer. This is my story too. This is probably your story as well. We are an unfaithful people. God disciplines the ones He loves and chastises every son whom He receives. Do not be ignorant to your relationship with God. God said that "they are not my people and I am not their God. " Would God say that of you? God said this of his chosen people. So this is not a matter of salvation on your part, but rather a reflection of your faithfulness to God. Are you faithful to God? Do not be ignorant to your relationship with God.