Road Warriors: Hosea—A Message of Grace - Monday
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (ESV)
This week, we’re studying the prophet Hosea and the fascinating story of him and a woman named Gomer found in the beginning of his book. Truthfully, I couldn’t even remember the last time I read the book of Hosea, so writing devotionals for this week presented me with an opportunity for a good refresher. And if you’re like me and don’t find yourself flipping to the book of Hosea very often, I hope our study this week allows you this same opportunity. The story of Hosea and Gomer is thick with nuance—you can derive just as much meaning from what isn’t said as you can from what is. Hosea chapter 1 is a doozie, particularly verse 2. Go take a peek with your favorite translation (I personally used ESV). Go ahead, I’ll wait…
The sentiment in this verse puts me back on my heels—what is going on in this story?! Hosea is telling us the incredibly difficult and confusing thing God called Him to do: Marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her. Okay… so, uh, what’s the point?
The point is this: God’s bride—the Israelites, His chosen people—had become repugnant, adulterous, and had broken their covenant with the Lord. Hosea’s bride will prove to be repugnant, adulterous, and will break her marital covenant. While the first three chapters in this book tell us about Gomer’s impact on Hosea’s life, the chapters that follow detail Hosea’s warnings to Israel about what will happen if they continue down their path of rebellion. And Hosea is equipped to speak not only prophetically, but in a way that emphasizes God’s emotions about Israel’s unfaithfulness. Because of his experience with Gomer, Hosea understands what God is feeling on a very personal level.
The end of both stories—Hosea and Gomer, God and Israel—show both brides having their debts paid, their dignities restored, and new promises made to be cared for by their grooms. These stories show us that God is ever-ready to receive us back when we stray and become defiant. I personally need to remember that truth every day (many times throughout the day) because I find ways to defy His goodness often. For me, Hosea 1-3 stands parallel to the story of the prodigal son found in Luke 15—when I feel irredeemable, lost, and too far gone, it always turns out that God is still right there, ready to receive me unfairly and undeservedly into His loving arms.
Monday’s Reflection
Do you need to run to the Father’s arms, toward the grace you’ve been running from? Turn to Him today. His love is bigger than our understanding and our ability to stray.
