This Book - Hands to the Plow

“No Mercy” is a stunning name, for Yahweh makes himself known as a merciful God. But he is not
obligated to show mercy. Mercy is not owed to anyone. As he said to Moses, “I ... will show mercy
on whom I will show mercy” (Exodus 33:19).
Yahweh’s words here are a reversal of the words he spoke to Moses.
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a
God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love
and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin … ” Exodus 34:6-7a
He is not, at least to Israel, a merciful God any longer. He is not abounding in steadfast love and
faithfulness, at least to them, any longer. He is not forgiving their iniquities and transgressions and
sins any longer. In other words, they are no different from any of the other nations.
But isn’t Yahweh obligated to do these things? What about the covenant that was made with Israel?
What about God’s promises? Shouldn’t he have pity on his own wife to whom he is bound? Not
if he she is no longer his wife. And that is precisely what is happening here. Israel has broken the
covenant with Yahweh and Yahweh is given her a certificate of divorce. No longer would she enjoy
her marital privileges of mercy and forgiveness. The next name will make this all the clearer. 7
Gomer’s third child
The next child has the worst name of all.
When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. And the LORD said,
“Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”
Hosea 1:8-9
“Not My People” indicates that Israel was no longer Yahweh’s special nation. They could not call
themselves God’s people any longer. What a tragedy! Consider how God spoke to the Israelites
earlier in their history. His intention was that they—of all people on the planet—would be his people:
“And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”
Leviticus 26:12
“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’
wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice
and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for
all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:4-6
Consider how Moses spoke about the people’s relationship with Yahweh.
Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O
Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy
27:9
This was no longer true. The name “Not My People” logically follows “No Mercy”, for without
mercy, Israel could not be Yahweh’s people. Without his mercy, they could not stand in his
presence for even a moment.
Before we move on, it is highly significant to note what God the Father says to Jesus when he
is baptized: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). Jesus is God’s
people. God is not ashamed to be associated with him. Keep this thought in mind, for the name of
Jesus will ring louder and louder as we work through Hosea.
7 It is significant to note that a distinction is made between Israel and Judah in verse 7. Judah, unlike Israel, would still find mercy from
Yahweh. He would save them (at least temporarily). This salvation, however, would not be by man’s military might. “I will not save them
by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen”. Instead, Yahweh promised to “save them by the LORD their God”.
Salvation from the Assyrians would come from Yahweh himself.
WeeK two
Hosea 1:1-9
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