“And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. … Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” Hosea 1:6,8-9
Many mistakenly believe that modern-day Israel is God’s chosen people; however, God’s word teaches otherwise. The names God commanded Hosea to give his children testify that those who turn aside from worshipping and serving the true God and looking to Him for mercy in the promised Messiah receive no mercy (“Lo-ruhamah”) and are no longer God’s people (“Lo-ammi”). God also said, “It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God” (Hosea 6:10). Those who repent of their sinful ways and look in faith to Messiah Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for pardon and forgiveness, whether Jew or Gentile, are God’s elect children (cf. Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Pet. 2:3-10).
Thank You, O God, for having mercy on me and adopting me as Your own dear child through faith in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Open the eyes of those who do not yet trust Jesus the Messiah, that they too might receive of Your mercy and be Your dear children through faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]