The book of Hosea is a tangled love story involving an unlikely couple that portrays an unforgettable picture of God’s covenant love for His people. We sometimes shy away from the Old Testament book of Hosea because it can be confusing, but if we want to know the deep and scandalous undying love of the Father for His people, we can find it within the pages of this short book.
Hosea pledges his devotion to Gomer even though he knows she will be unfaithful. The soap-opera sounding saga tells of an unusual marriage between a prophet and a prostitute. Their story begins with Jehovah God instructing Hosea to find a wife – a harlot. Sounds absurd, I know, but it has a beautiful purpose.
The preacher obeyed and gave the fallen lady his name, so they set up housekeeping and had a family. The meaning of the names of their three children were significant; God Scatters, No Mercy, and Not My People. Before long, fickle Gomer lived up to her reputation and continued her love affair with the world. Despite Hosea’s patient pleas, Gomer’s bitter betrayal took her far from home and she refused to return. He adored her, but still she abandoned him.
O my heart.
When we turn our back on God, He doesn’t wait for us to come back. He pursues us. Hosea’s words still speak to the church today about our unfaithfulness and God’s extravagant forgiveness.
Later, the Lord spoke to Hosea again and told him to take back the wife he couldn’t stop loving. He found her battered by life, chained in a slave auction. The broken-hearted one purchased her for silver and barley.
He paid a price for his bride.
The story portrays God’s beautiful desire for us and the great blood-price He paid to make us His own. No matter how unfaithful we’ve been we will find redeeming arms to hold us close. If you want to read a good love story, one that you’re part of, you’ll find it in fourteen chapters that tells about them, and you, and me. . .
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear. He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3
Verna
What a beautiful story! What an awesome God!
Thanks for sharing.
And thank you for your comment, Maureen – it’s beautifully-awesome how God’s love never fails!
Thanks Verna … I don’t know how to say it but thanks and I know of Hosea … have a great weekend! Rick =)
Thank you for visiting again, Rick . . . I always enjoy your comments. Yes, I understand, many can relate personally and spiritually to the beautifully-devastating story of Hosea and Gomer.
Such love, God’s love for us that is truly much too big to grasp. You have taken God’s word and with great clarity brought us so much closer to the reality of that love. What a picture of Grace!! Amazing Grace!! Thank you!!
In our finite-ness, right – how? And what a picture of grace in an Old Testament book all about the cross. Thank you Linda for your faithful encouragement . . .