Connect 1 Peter 2:10 with Hosea 2:23 on God's redemptive plan. From Not My People to My People 1 Peter 2:10: “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Hosea 2:23: “And I will sow her for Myself in the land; I will have compassion on ‘Lo-ruhamah,’ and I will say to ‘Lo-ammi,’ ‘You are My people’; and they will say, ‘You are our God.’ ” Hosea’s Prophetic Backdrop • Hosea’s children were given symbolic names—Lo-ruhamah (“No Mercy”) and Lo-ammi (“Not My People”)—to announce judgment on Israel. • Even as judgment loomed, God promised a future reversal: mercy would replace no-mercy, and covenant belonging would replace alienation. • This glimpse of restoration foreshadowed a wider redemption reaching far beyond ethnic Israel. Peter’s Spirit-Led Application • Peter quotes Hosea to describe believers in Jesus—Jew and Gentile alike—who once stood outside covenant blessing. • In Christ, the prophecy’s reversal is experienced now: – “Now you are the people of God” → new corporate identity. – “Now you have received mercy” → personal and communal pardon. • The church becomes proof that God keeps His word spoken through the prophets. Unfolding Redemptive Plan • Creation: humanity intended for fellowship but fell (Genesis 3). • Promise: God calls Abraham, pledging blessing to “all families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). • Prophets: Hosea announces both exile and homecoming, preparing hearts for a deeper solution. • Cross and Resurrection: Jesus bears judgment, securing mercy (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). • Pentecost: Jews and Gentiles formed into one people (Acts 2; Ephesians 2:14-16). • Consummation: the Lamb’s bride, once scattered, gathers as one kingdom people (Revelation 21:3). Scripture Echoes of the Same Promise • Romans 9:25-26—Paul quotes Hosea to explain Gentile inclusion. • Ephesians 2:12-13—those “far off” are brought near by Christ’s blood. • Titus 3:5—salvation rests on God’s mercy, not human merit. • John 1:12—believers are granted the right to become God’s children. • Revelation 5:9—people from every tribe and tongue ransomed for God. Living Out Our New Identity • Celebrate mercy daily—gratitude displaces guilt. • Embrace unity—diverse backgrounds, one people. • Proclaim the reversal—tell others how God transforms “not My people” into His family (1 Peter 2:9). • Pursue holiness—belonging to God carries the privilege of reflecting His character (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Key Takeaways • Hosea 2:23’s promise and 1 Peter 2:10’s fulfillment display a single, seamless plan of redemption. • God’s faithfulness turns judgment into mercy and outsiders into heirs. • Every believer participates now in the prophetic reversal and anticipates its final, glorious completion. |
    |