Shincheonji Perspective

Hosea 12:10 – God speaking to the prophets in parables.

Shincheonji believes that the prophecies of the entire Bible are hidden away in parables, and that we need to have a divinely appointed “Promised Pastor” to explain the true meanings behind each parable.

Doctrinal Issues

While it is true that God did use parables and metaphors to convey his message, not every metaphor was “locked away” or was unable to be understood within its immediate context. In fact, when reading the book of Hosea, we already see God using the prophet Hosea to convey His point of idolatry and how the Isrealites were turning to the gods of the canaanites.

Before jumping to Hosea 12:10 and taking it out of context, let us explore the historical context and background of the prophet Hosea.

Historical Context of Hosea

Time Period

Hosea’s ministry spanned the reigns of several kings of Israel and Judah, most notably during the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel, a time of significant outward prosperity but severe internal decay, particularly in terms of idolatry, social injustice, and religious corruption.

Socio-Political Conditions

The Kingdom of Israel, at this time, experienced economic prosperity which led to social stratification and neglect of the vulnerable and poor. This wealth was contrasted sharply by rampant inequalities and a departure from the covenantal laws prescribed in the Torah, which mandated care for the poor and just leadership.

Religious Apostasy

Hosea’s primary concern was Israel’s infidelity to God. The people had turned to Canaanite gods, notably Baal, which involved engaging in rituals that were contrary to Yahwistic worship. The worship of Baal was intertwined with agricultural prosperity, which many Israelites believed depended on honoring these local deities.

Hosea’s Message

In this context, Hosea’s prophecies often employed vivid and sometimes shocking imagery to call the people back to faithfulness. His marriage to Gomer, a woman described as unfaithful, served as a living metaphor for Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. Hosea used this personal and communal experience to convey his messages of judgment and eventual restoration.

This also shows another thing that brings an issue with Shincheonji’s interpretation, the Israelites understood God’s prophecies, and that the prophecies weren’t obscured and locked away within the parables.

God used metaphors and parables calling for Israel to repent

Throughout the book of Hosea, God used parables that were understood by the Israelites calling for repentance.

This shows an understanding of God’s words to the general audience.

Throughout the book of Hosea, God was repeatedly asking the Israelites to repent of their sins, using metaphors and parables urging them to repent.

While it is true that God used a prophet to convey his message, the prophet Hosea wasn’t uttering obscure parables, but instead used the parables which were understood by the general public to convey a message.

We can see these parables being understood in the following passages of the book of Hosea.

Marriage and Infidelity; Hosea’s Marriage to Gomer (Hosea 1:2-3, 3:1-3)

Hosea’s marriage to Gomer, who is described as a woman of promiscuity, serves as a living metaphor for Israel’s unfaithfulness to God through idolatry. This personal story of marital unfaithfulness would resonate deeply with an audience familiar with the covenantal language often used to describe Israel’s relationship with God, where infidelity represented idolatry and turning away from God.

Parent Child Relationship; God as a Parent to Israel (Hosea 11:1-4)

God describes His relationship with Israel as that of a parent to a child, depicting how He “taught Ephraim to walk,” and “led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.” This portrayal taps into a deeply relational and emotive understanding, emphasizing God’s nurturing and caring role, juxtaposed with Israel’s ingratitude and rebellion.

Agricultural Metaphors; Reaping the Whirlwind (Hosea 8:7)

“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” This agricultural metaphor would be instantly clear to an agrarian society, illustrating the principle of consequences aligning with one’s actions, particularly in the context of Israel’s political alliances and idolatrous practices leading to inevitable disaster.

Animal; Israel as a stubborn heifer

Hosea prophecies the end of joyous occasions like Sabbaths, New Moons, and festal assemblies due to Israel’s unfaithfulness. This would strike a chord with the audience as these were familiar religious practices, now being highlighted as hollow or corrupted due to their improper conduct and idolatrous associations.

These metaphors and parables were not only culturally and contextually relevant, but they also provided clear and impactful messages that the audience could understand without needing specialized interpretation. Hosea’s use of such imagery was intended to provoke reflection and repentance by vividly illustrating the consequences of Israel’s actions and God’s enduring offer of reconciliation.

There are also other things to take into consideration, especially when dealing with parables and prophecies.