Read: Hosea 2-3
The relationship
between God and Israel was symbolized in the life of Hosea. After Gomer had three children, she returned
to her old occupation. Hosea found her,
brought her home and put her through a period of discipline when he didn’t know
her as a wife. Then he courted her and
started all over again with her as his wife.
Gomer was reproached by her children for what she was doing and Hosea
punished her for her behaviour but she was restored as his wife. Throughout Gomer’s promiscuity Hosea was
faithful to her even when she was faithless to him. He was firm with her and for a period of time
he did not treat her as his wife (which most likely means that he didn’t share
the bed with her). Gomer had a healthy
fear of Hosea which led to respect and loyalty being slowly brought back into
her life. Through Hosea’s experience
with Gomer God provided Israel with a concrete illustration of what His
relationship with them had been like. They
had played the harlot but God would take them back, following a period of
punishment and probation.
In today’s
passage, we see God depicted as a jilted husband who wants to win his wife
back. This husband not only learns of
his wife’s unfaithfulness but also learns that the children are not his (2:2-5). Israel is condemned for her unfaithfulness
with charges of harlotry and adultery and will be punished for this sinful
conduct. Because of this her path will
be blocked and she will be walled in (2:6) so that she cannot find other lovers
and will go back to her husband (2: 7).
She returns without acknowledging what God has provided for her (2: 8)
so her provisions are taken away from her (2: 9) and she will be kept from
experiencing celebrations and festivals (2: 11). The things that she acquired with the pay
from her lovers will be destroyed (2: 12) and she will be punished for going
after other lovers and forgetting her husband (2: 13). Then, she (Israel) would be wooed by her
husband (God) who will lead her into the dessert and speak tenderly to her (2:14)
and win her back curing her of her idol worship (2:17) and establishing a
covenant of peace and safety, betrothed to her once again (2:18-20). God
does not want to punish Israel; instead He wants to marry her (2:19) and win
her back to a life of righteousness and mercy and love.
Prayer and Journaling
1. We can learn from this passage a bit about how
God feels about apostasy and spiritual harlotry. Christians are betrothed to Christ (2 Cor.
11:2) and must be careful not to fall into spiritual adultery (2 Cor.
11:3). Ask the Lord to show you any
areas of sin in your life that you need to repent of today. Confess these things as sin and then ask Him
to show you how you can walk in accordance with His Word.
2. Mediate on Hosea 2:19-20. It is interesting to note the image God used
to communicate His relationship with us.
It isn’t a judge who is passing a sentence or a father scolding his
children. The picture is that of the
intimate relationship of marriage. This
paints the picture of God as a husband who longs for intimacy and closeness
with us. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you
what this tells of your worth to Him.
3. The story of Hosea and Gomer is our story. We all must come to the realization that “I
am Gomer”. Each time we sin we are being
unfaithful to God. He is compassionate
and forgiving but my sin causes great damage to our relationship. God sees our unfaithfulness and we are disciplined
for it but ultimately God wants us back.
He loves us and wants relationship with us. There are times when we may feel like
quitting because of our own unfaithfulness to Him but He says, “I’m not done
with you, I desire to restore you as my bride. I desire to continue my love
relationship with you, return to Me!” What
else does Jesus want to say to you about this?
