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Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
We know very little about Hosea’s history. However, biblical scholars call him ‘Israel’s First Evangelist’. Because Hosea was an honorable man, it must have seemed strange when God instructed him to marry a prostitute. Yet, Hosea (whose name means ‘salvation’) obeyed the Lord and took a harlot for his wife named Gomer. Over the years they had three children, the marriage crumbled, and Gomer backslid into the arms of a previous lover. Even though Gomer left Hosea to pursue shameful lusts, he was heartbroken.
Regardless of Gomer’s adultery, God told Hosea to continuously seek and search for her. He told Hosea to protect her with delicate attentiveness and deal tenderly with her, in spite of her sin. Pursuing her with gingerly affection, and win her back into the marital union. Without delay, Hosea explored the region, hunting for his wife. Finally, he found her at a remote slave market. Either she had sold herself into debt, or involved with a man who demanded money, because Hosea had to buy her. So after purchasing Gomer with fifteen pieces of silver, five bushels of barley, and a measure of wine, he took her home. Wooing his wife with a heart full of love, he shrouded her soul from harm “But then I will win her back once again…and speak tenderly to her” (Hosea 2:14).
By this time, Hosea clearly identified with God’s grief over Israel’s sin of idolatry. He realized they had trespassed against God, as an adulterous woman sins against her husband. And not merely one idol, but the Israelites worshiped numerous gods. Hosea understood that although Gomer’s unfaithfulness damaged her integrity, it did not prevent God from loving her. Just as Gomer betrayed Hosea, so the nation of Israel had been unfaithful to God. Furthermore, in the same manner that Hosea pursued his wife, so the Lord seeks us. Thankfully, His love is loyal, unchanging, and undying. No matter what, God loves us “It is because of the Lord’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed. His tender compassions never fail and they are new every morning. Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness” (Lam 3:22-23).
*Dear Father, Your compassion toward us is truly everlasting with eternal arms underneath. May we nestle ever so close today, knowing that we are loved and desired by You. Please forgive our moral lapses and grant restoration. Thank You, Amen.”
A well written message. It is hard for us to understand and want to respond in the same manner that the Lord told Hosea to do. To show his interest and even an intimacy through marriage with a disloyal person who displayed an attitude of disregard for his feelings would make us scratch our heads in disbelief if we were told to do this. Those individuals who could care less about hurting our feelings and not reciprocating our affection would make life disheartening and miserable.
How we have broken our Lord’s heart in this way and we have given little thought to it, yet this story is a testimony of His love that pursues us. He is the object of what real love is. That is a characteristic of who He is. He desires to cleanse us, free us, and renew us because we are the object of His love.
It was a strange thing to ask of a man to be true, loving, and forgiving towards this women. Yet it was a picture of how people chose to turn their backs on Him and break His heart but God remains true to Himself and continues to love every one by offering mankind His grace and mercy.
We see in this story the picture what Christ would be emulating towards mankind as well when He came into this world. Hosea was buying his wife back from a slave market and restoring her relationship to him once again. Christ came to redeem us out of the slave market of sin and restoring our fellowship with Him; calling out a bride for Himself.
What a wonderful Savior!
Good message and article.
Thank you for posting.
God Bless~