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Hosea, Scandalous Love

What would you do if God commanded you to marry someone to prove a point? Most of us probably wouldn't be OK with that. What if the person God commanded you to marry is best described as a whore? Then we really wouldn't be OK with that. In fact many of us would openly refuse. That's a crazy request!

Well this is exactly what God commands of Hosea. It is a phenomenal circumstance designed to show the people of Israel just how they are treating God. Despite this most unusual command, Hosea obeys. This real world marriage gives us a look into how sin has affected our relationship with God.

Background

The book of Hosea was written by the prophet Hosea. He lived and wrote in the latter part of the eighth century BC (circa 750 BC - 710 BC). He lived in northern nation of Israel, and the book of Hosea was mostly intended for them. 

While we primarily remember the story at the beginning of the book, it is important to realize that the majority of the book is prophetic poetry. The story is an illustration of the problem that Israel has in their covenant with God. The rest of the book then deals with that problem, both with God's wrath and mercy.

Themes

There are two big themes on display; God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness. The book of Hosea stresses repeatedly how God has never broken the covenant he made with his people. Israel, on the other hand, have done almost nothing but betray this relationship. God expresses both his anger and love for Israel in the pages of this book.

The story at the beginning is designed to highlight the problem. To understand the rest of the book we have to understand the story of Hosea and Gomer. God commands Hosea to marry a "wife of whoredom" (Hosea 1:2). We usually interpret this to mean a prostitute, but that is not correct. This isn't a woman who is desperately selling her self for money. This is a woman who is simply unfaithful and has no intention of being faithful. 

As God commanded, Hosea marries this woman. Soon after she conceives a son and God commands Hosea to name him Jezreel, a significant location in Israel's history. This is not so unusual. As chapter one goes on, Gomer conceives again. This time, however, something small yet significant is missing. In chapter 1:3 it clearly says that Gomer "bore him a son." In verse 6 the "him" in absent. In addition to this God commands Hosea to name the girl "No Mercy" or "Not Loved."

The girl is NOT Hosea's child. By choosing this name, God is indicating to us and Hosea that this is not his daughter. This child is the product of adultery. The next child Gomer bears once again is missing the "him" in verse 8. God commands the young boy to be named "Not My People." Again, this child is NOT Hosea's. Hosea now has two children that aren't his. He named them "Not Loved" and "Not Mine." 

In chapter two God says, in no uncertain terms, that Israel's unfaithfulness will be punished. He condemns their adultery against him. He says that he will take away his blessings from them for breaking the covenant. But God also promises renewal. He promises that he will show love to Not Loved and Not My People will be called My People. This chapter draws a definite parallel between Hosea and Gomer's marriage and God and Israel's covenant.

In chapter three we return to the story of Hosea and Gomer. What we find is that Gomer is gone. God commands Hosea to once again go and take an adulteress wife. Gomer left him and God commands Hosea to bring her back. 

After leaving Hosea's care, Gomer has fallen on hard times. She is now selling herself as a slave to the highest bidder. She is desperate for a home. It is here where Hosea has to buy his own wife. There could have been nothing more humiliating, but Hosea publicly bids on his own wife and wins her back.

Theological Point

The story of Hosea and Gomer is an illustration for God and us. We have betrayed God countless times. We have committed adultery with other gods, worshiping them instead being wholly devoted to the God who made us. We do not deserve God's love, but he loves us anyway. It is scandalous love.

I thought of words other than scandalous to describe this picture in Hosea. Really scandalous is the best word. If any two people had a relationship like this, it would be a scandal. It wouldn't make sense to take a cheating spouse back. The thing is God has taken us back. He had to pay to get us, his own people, back to him. He had to pay with the life of Jesus Christ. If that's not a scandalous love, I don't know what is. 

Conclusion

Thank God that he is so scandalous with his love! I am thankful that he is willing to love me despite the fact that I don't deserve it. I am thankful that it doesn't make sense.

I encourage you to read the whole book of Hosea. The beginning story sets the stage, but the rest of the book expands on its themes and point. We should be careful about how we live our lives, especially as Christians. The Israelites were God's chosen people, they knew God. Look at how God felt about their betrayal. We know Jesus. We have even less excuse to continue to live in sin. 

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