Hosea ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel during its final decades before destruction. The nation was outwardly prosperous but inwardly corrupt—idolatrous, self-confident, and spiritually unfaithful. God’s call to Hosea was unlike any other. Instead of beginning with visions or sermons, the LORD commanded Hosea to live the message: “Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD