Of all the outlandish commands God ever gave, this one to Hosea just might take the cake. "Go take to yourself an adulterous wife." Excuse me.....would you please repeat that Lord?
Romeo and Juliet......Cleopatra and Mark Anthony......Jennifer and Brad.......Hosea and Gomer.
Let me get this right.....you want me to marry a girl that is a known cheater and will definitely be unfaithful to me?
Poor Hosea. God was going to use his marriage as an object lesson to the unfaithful nation of Israel.
After the happy couple had two babies Gomer's cheat'n heart got the best of her. "She got on the bus Gus.....she made a new plan Stan....she dropped off the key Lee and set herself free." She left her family and found another lover.
Hosea was a national personality. He was known as God's spokesman. How could he do his job with this scandal at home?
Then of all things the Lord gave him a second command: "Go show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other god's.
You cannot be serious!
Somehow Hosea took her back. Then God helped him understand that Gomer was an illustration of an entire nation led astray by a spirit of prostitution. In 14 scathing chapters Hosea listed the crimes committed by Israel............BUT God was willing to take them back!
He must love them very much. Grace is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don't deserve.
I was sickened this week to see a video of a Christian leader publicly giving applause for the deaths of 49 precious souls at a bar in Orlando. Like Alexander the Great said to a soldier named Alexander found sleeping while on guard duty. "Change your name or change your character."
I dream of having the entire USA stop all activity for five minutes. Then I dream of giving a five minute speech to every one. My subject would be grace. The words of Hosea would be fitting for the address:
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces BUT he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. Let us acknowledge the Lord; and let us press on to acknowledge him. (Hosea 6:1-3)
To the broken family from Nebraska who lost their son at Disney.....to the grieving families who lost their loved ones in Orlando.....to the devastated family who lost two boys at Letchworth......to all who have been torn to pieces......to all of us with cheat'n hearts that have walked out on commitments and walked away from God........
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us.
Be strong and courageous.....be gracious and compassionate, MB