Bible Reading: Hosea 1:1-11
Key Verse: Verse 2 - “The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.”
Key Words: Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms
What an unusual command by God, “Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms...” Why would God command such a thing? Since this is a devotional and not a commentary, I will quickly state three points.
- Hosea’s marriage is a picture of God’s grace and mercy to us, in spite of us.
- Hosea’s marriage is a picture of God’s blessing to us, in spite of us.
- Hosea’s marriage is a command to teach us the depth of God’s love and mercy for us.
As you read the book of Hosea, you are prone to wonder about Gomer. Did she emerge from her whoredom a wise woman? Did she return Hosea’s love? Did she become a model wife and mother? We can certainly hope so, but you have to admit that they were unusual sweethearts.
When Irving S. Olds was chairman of the U.S. Steel Corporation, he arrived for a stockholders’ meeting and was confronted by a woman who asked, “Exactly who are you and what do you do?” Without batting an eye, Olds replied, “I am your chairman. Of course, you know the duties of a chairman – that’s someone who is roughly the equivalent of parsley on a platter of fish.”
This is about how useful Gomer was in her marriage with Hosea; but, of course, the book of Hosea is not about Gomer’s unfaithfulness -- it’s about God’s faithfulness. So remember when all is not well in your life and in your marriage, God is faithful when others aren’t.
Dr. Mike Rouse
What to do:
✞ When all is not well in your marriage, remember Hosea.
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