Theory question 104
God's Divine Love(a)(i) Mention the names of Hosea's three children. (ii) Explain the meaning of each of the names.
(b) In what three ways are names significant in your society?
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(a)(i) Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah and Lo-ammi (Hosea 1:4-9).
(ii) Jezreel ("God sows"): God would punish the house of Jehu for the blood shed at Jezreel and end the kingdom of Israel (Hosea 1:4-5).
Lo-ruhamah ("not pitied"): God would no more have pity on Israel or forgive them (Hosea 1:6).
Lo-ammi ("not my people"): "you are not my people and I am not your God" (Hosea 1:9).
God later promised to reverse them: "Ammi" (my people) and "Ruhamah" (pitied) (Hosea 2:1, 23).
(b) Any three: names give identity; they record circumstances of birth; they express parents' hopes or prayers; they show religious faith (e.g. names with God); they show family or ethnic background; they can carry a message or reminder, as Hosea's did.
Give the names and meanings from Hosea 1, then three points.