My mind is on Hosea--man and his message. The subject matter of the book has been the source of numerous questions. How could God command his prophet to marry an adulterous wife? How could he expect him to take care of children of unfaithfulness? How can a holy God command such a thing? Before we explain it away, we must remember that God is setting Hosea up as an analogy. Hosea is to take an adulterous wife in order to demonstrate the Lord's relationship to Israel. The Lord had entered into a covenant relationship with Israel, but they had forsaken him and ran after other gods.
Even if Hosea serves as an analogy, how can God command such a thing? The better question is: How can a holy God love us? We are no less wayward than Gomer. Even Isaiah says we have all gone astray like sheep. We as creatures, in our natural state, have abandoned our Creator. We have broken covenant with him. How can he love us? How can he restore us to relationship with himself?
When we fully understand the thrust of Hosea's message, or I should say, the Lord's message through Hosea, it gives us a glimpse into the heart of our Lord. The message of Hosea is one of unconditional love. The story of Hosea and Gomer provokes deep emotion. It strikes the heart. How can a man love a woman who has chased other lovers? How can he raise children who may not be his? How can he continue to praise the Lord in the midst of it all?
Most of us, I think it is safe to assume, would not tolerate this kind of infidelity. If we were married to Gomer she would be out in the street. Good riddance to bad rubbish, the old saying goes. Yet, Hosea's love for Gomer is a reflection of God's love for his people. Our love, so often, is conditional in nature. God's love is truly unconditional. He loves us because he loves us, we are wayward adulterers who pursue other things with passion that should be reserved for him alone. When good gifts pour into our lives we praise our hard work, our talent, our ability, we thank fate or luck or good fortune. Like Gomer we mistakenly think the objects of our desire have bought for us these gifts, but in reality it is God who is blessing us in order to bring us to himself.
Unconditional love does not mean that God will forget their sin. No, a way of purification must be made. He will forsake her, he will punish her, and finally he will raise her up. He will have to take the spirit of adultery out of her heart and replace it with the Spirit of holiness. Hosea's sermons to the nation of Israel point to the crucifixion of Christ. Christ, the true Israel, was forsaken, punished (to death), and was raised up on the third day. Christ the Savior brings salvation to the harlot bride. He buys her back from her slavery, and brings her to himself. He enters into covenant with her--a covenant which he enables her to keep through the indwelling Spirit. As Paul reminds us, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Eph. 5:25-27).
In Hosea's day the kingdom of Israel collapsed under the weight of its sin and the people where sent into exile. In Christ, the true Israel, the kingdom is restored and all of God's people are brought back from exile and alienation. Spend some time in Hosea and allow the Lord to show you the depth of his mercy and unfailing love. Let him teach you that he is the Lover of your soul. Let your heart be broken before his mercy and find in him your heart's true home.
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