Monday 13 October 2014

Love Gone Sour: The Story of Hosea & Gomer

Happy Monday to my readers and followers,

Hope you had a lovely weekend?

Basically I have heard and read different views about how God instructed Hosea to marry an adulterous wife, and how it can be applicable to our relationships and marriages.

What's your view? Please, take your time to read Hosea 1-3.

So...Hosea and Gomer..

Hosea's marriage to Gomer is a most troubling nuptial tale. The Lord told Hosea to marry a promiscuous woman, she bore him three children, who, if their names are indication, were trouble; and though Gomer repeatedly committed adultery, the Lord INSTRUCTED Hosea to FORGIVE her again and again and to continue to be faithful to her. (Would you be faithful to your spouse if your spouse was unfaithful to you?). 

What would it have been like for Hosea to marry someone who he knew would be habitually unfaithful?
Would God really command us in this dispensation to marry someone that He knows will be unfaithful? In this era, God told us in the book of 1 Corinthians 6:14 that, we must not become partners or associates with those who do not believe in Jesus. But there was no record that, Gomer did not believe in the Lord. Therefore, we cannot rightly state that, Gomer was not a believer but her action did not depict a life of a Christian.

Back to Hosea.

Do you think he would have found it difficult to obey God's commands? 

The Lord said to Hosea in Hosea 3:1 that, Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress.

Would you obey that command?

I believe the book of Hosea reminds us of God's love for us and His love for His people.  God has continued to remind us of how His chosen people (People of Israel) abandoned Him, and gave themselves to other gods (Hosea 3:1b). Did you know that God kept going after His people, despite their unfaithfulness? He kept showing them His love over and over again. He wanted them even though they had not wanted Him (How difficult would it be to love someone that does not love or want us?)

God is also teaching us about forgiveness, He is telling us that, when our friends/spouse offend us, we should receive them back with love, we must follow the example of God's love and how He showed His love to His people ( But in reality, this is not easy, we need to be willing to allow God to help us).


 
I also believe God is reminding us that, we may shape each other as believers, "iron sharpens iron", in other words, God can use you to transform someone. Even if we are part of someone else's transformation, it is finally God, not us, who effects the change. We are not called to change others but we are called to love and forgive each other, as we are loving and forgiving one another, God will change us all for the better.

Imagine, how Gomer must have felt when her husband reconciled with her and said, "You are to live with me many days". - Hosea 3:3. 

I believe God wants us to work out our flaws and not give up on ourselves. Also, God may give you a spouse with flaws and you need God and determination to nurture each other.

You may even stumble across things that you don't like about your friends/spouse in the course of your relationship, God is telling you as He told Hosea that, He is ready to help you to love that person, particularly if that is God's plan for you and your spouse/your friend to continue your relationship.

Please, create time to read the book of Hosea. Try and contextualise the account of Hosea and Gomer. I do not believe God is telling us to marry a Promiscious person; God was using the story to remind us of His unconditional love for us and how we are to love others regardless of their sinful lifestyles, and for us to love others with sincere hearts and not retaliate any offence.

Finally, God is reminding us to trust Him in our decision making, like, Hosea listened to God's directions and how He obeyed God, He wants you and I to obey His teachings.

Please, do not use the story of Hosea to justify marrying a Promiscious person, remember to be guided by the Lord in all your decision making, just like Hosea was guided by God.

I hope I have not confused you with this write-up.

My daily devotional guided my write-up as well.

- Myss Lafunky




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