Say unto your brothers, “Ammi,” and to your sisters, “Ruhamah.” Hosea 2:1 

Hosea is a beautiful story of God’s mercy. It showcases the long arm of God and the extent to which He will go to reach His children when they are far from Him. Throughout this prophetic book, God delivers some difficult words to the people He loves, and, unfortunately, they are well deserved. Their betrayal has been profound, and their disobedience heartbreaking.  His messages will be proclaimed with sobering clarity but the people aren’t in a place yet to take them to heart. They are enjoying their sin too much. 

In spite of this, God’s unchanging love for them is evident in the way He addresses them. “Ammi” means ‘my people’ and ‘Ruhamah’ means ‘those who have obtained mercy’. 

To make a fair comparison, let’s imagine a wife sitting down to have a difficult conversation with an unfaithful husband. She begins by addressing him as ‘my dear husband – who has already obtained mercy.’ Even if what follows is tough love, there is surely a foundation for the future. 

This reminds of me a scene between Peter and Jesus in the upper room, the night Jesus would be arrested. Peter tells Jesus, in a sincere flash of passion, that he is ready to die for Him. Jesus replies, “Not only aren’t you ready to give your life for Me, but before morning comes, you will deny that you know Me three times.” At this, Peter’s heart is full of anguish. It’s what Jesus says next that is so far from the confines of human limits. “Don’t be worried and upset.  Believe in God.  Believe also in me.” There is mercy before the sin; mercy that bridges the present and the future. 

You and I have a Savior who tells us that though we will fail Him today, we should not be consumed with hopelessness. This is not to say that we shouldn’t take our sin seriously, but only that He stands ready to forgive and extend mercy when we repent. Peter’s restoration with Jesus after the resurrection provides a picture of one who obtained unfathomable mercy. They ate a meal together, exchanged heartfelt words about ‘feeding the sheep’, and Peter went on to become the founding father of the New Testament church. The unspoken posture of his writings is, consistently, ‘one who has obtained mercy.’ 

For every way I have failed You, there is redemption. I fall on my knees in gratitude. Amen