When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord.” (v.2)
Let’s begin with a hypothetical question: If you found out that you were a victim of adultery, could you forgive your spouse? Imagine that the unfaithfulness was not a one-night stand, but a long affair. Imagine further that your spouse wasn’t very repentant and was even rather open about what he or she was doing. Would you still love your spouse? Would you want him or her back?
This question is asked to highlight the incredible love of God. When we–His people–are unfaithful, spurning the love of our true Husband, He continues to love us. He pursues us, wooing us back and disciplining us. That’s the picture we see in the lives of Hosea and his wife Gomer.
Hosea’s marriage and family were a living symbol of God’s message of judgment. In front of the nation, they acted out the relationship between God and Israel. Just as Gomer chased after other men, so Israel chased after other gods. Just as she dishonored the marriage covenant, so the nation dishonored its covenant with God (Jer. 3:8-9; Ezek. 16:32-34), and punishment was imminent.
But this is not the end of the story. God in His infinite mercy and love restored both the nation of Israel to Himself, and Gomer to her loving husband Hosea. What a beautiful picture this is of God’s love for us! Our loving heavenly Father, who would endure anything to reconcile His children back to Himself.
The Truth: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:26)
Let’s begin with a hypothetical question: If you found out that you were a victim of adultery, could you forgive your spouse? Imagine that the unfaithfulness was not a one-night stand, but a long affair. Imagine further that your spouse wasn’t very repentant and was even rather open about what he or she was doing. Would you still love your spouse? Would you want him or her back?
This question is asked to highlight the incredible love of God. When we–His people–are unfaithful, spurning the love of our true Husband, He continues to love us. He pursues us, wooing us back and disciplining us. That’s the picture we see in the lives of Hosea and his wife Gomer.
Hosea’s marriage and family were a living symbol of God’s message of judgment. In front of the nation, they acted out the relationship between God and Israel. Just as Gomer chased after other men, so Israel chased after other gods. Just as she dishonored the marriage covenant, so the nation dishonored its covenant with God (Jer. 3:8-9; Ezek. 16:32-34), and punishment was imminent.
But this is not the end of the story. God in His infinite mercy and love restored both the nation of Israel to Himself, and Gomer to her loving husband Hosea. What a beautiful picture this is of God’s love for us! Our loving heavenly Father, who would endure anything to reconcile His children back to Himself.
The Truth: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:26)
