Hosea 1 -- I Didn't Know I Was Gomer

Hosea was given a tough action sermon by God to be delivered through his own life.  He was told to marry a known prostitute, which would be a very gracious act for any man, but particularly a man of God.  What’s worse about it is that God knew she’d be continuing her trade.  Hosea would have to love her despite her actions.  Together, they got pregnant and she had a son, who was named to let the people know that God was about to break the power of the northern kingdom of Israel.

His wife got pregnant again, but unlike the first time, there’s no mention that the child is Hosea’s.  The baby girl’s name meat “unpitied” or “not loved”!  How sad for the little girl.  And how sad for Israel, for God was going to withdraw His love and no longer show them mercy as a nation.

My commentary had a profound comment:  “The expression of God’s love is certainly unconditional, but our enjoyment of that love is conditional and depends on our faith and obedience.”  It’s almost like God was still going to love, but He was applying a Teflon coating to those people so that none of His love could “stick”.

Hosea’s wife gets pregnant again, and again there’s no mention of the little boy being Hosea’s son.  In fact, the child’s name meant “not My people”.  My commentary said, “Not only would God remove His mercy from His people, but He would also renounce the covenant He had made with them.”  Israel would cease to exist.  Yet God does leave a message of hope:  The Israelites would one day again be too numerous to count, they would again be called “children of the living God”, and Judah and Israel would be joined together again when they recognize Messiah and submit to His rule.

The toughest part of this action sermon for us today?  We are to realize that our part is that of Gomer, not Hosea, my commentary said.  God married us, knowing we’d be unfaithful, and sure enough, we have been.  Yet He still loves us.  Our unfaithfulness produces things within us that God abhors, yet He continues to love us, as Hosea did Gomer.  Wow!  We’ll be watching ourselves as Gomer as the story unfolds, also watching God’s reactions to our own unfaithfulness to Him.

Father, I’ve not read this in this manner before.  Help me to be keenly aware of how this describes my own relationship with You; then help me to become much more faithful.  Remove my tendency to stray.  Continue to change my heart of stone into a heart of flesh that beats only for You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford