However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are children of the living God!”
Hosea 1:10 NET
Hosea was a prophet of God in the waning days of the northern kingdom of Israel. God instructed him to marry a prostitute (Hos. 1:2) and then to give strange names to their children: Jezreel (God sow’s), Lo-Ruhamah (not pitied), and Lo-Ammi (not my people).
Hosea’s family served as an object lesson to Israel. His unfaithful wife represented unfaithful Israel, who, although married to God, engaged in spiritual prostitution with many other gods. And the names of his children represented God’s attitude toward Israel. Because of their unfaithfulness, God would show them no pity and disown them as his children.
But Hosea 1:10-11 looked forward to a time when God would again show pity on them and claim them as his people. In that future, the people of Israel would be like the sand of the sea, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 22:17). And they would be called “children of the living God” rather than children of the dead gods of the nations.
The apostle Paul references this passage in Romans 9:25-26. In this chapter, and the two that follow, Paul addressed Israel and their rejection of Jesus, their promised Messiah. He explained what was happening with Israel. And he looked forward to a time when his fellow Jews would be saved.
But Paul understood this passage from Hosea not just to reference fallen Israel. He also includes Gentiles in its fulfillment (Rom. 9:24). All those God has called, Jew and Gentile alike, will be called God’s people, the people of Israel. We (believing Gentiles) are a part of that uncountable multitude promised to Abraham and foretold through Hosea.
