Hosea

This book offers a shocking opening to the Twelve. God commands Hosea to do the unthinkable: marry a prostitute named Gomer. It isn't just a strange request; it's a living metaphor. Hosea represents God, and the unfaithful Gomer represents the nation of Israel. Through the pain of this broken marriage, Hosea explores God's emotional life. He shows that God isn't just a distant judge; He is a heartbroken husband.

Despite Israel's constant betrayal, the book teaches that God's love is irrational and relentless. While Hosea focuses on God's love, the next prophet shifts the focus to a terrifying warning about the Day of the Lord in the book of Joel.