In a recent study on the book of Hosea, I have been amazed at God’s mercy and grace, but most of all his patience. Jennifer Rothschild’s study asks the question, “What would be your reaction if God told you to go love Gomer in spite of what she was doing and how she was living?” Well, my immediate reaction was “Really? You want me to love this woman who does not love anybody but herself? Are you kidding me?” Well, guess what? Hosea obeyed. How many times have you heard from God to take action that seems ridiculous and may possibly take you out of your comfort zone?
If you are unfamiliar with the story, Hosea was a righteous man and a prophet who was told by God to go marry Gomer, the harlot and make her the mother of your children. He did it without question or hesitation, and Hosea found Gomer and married her, and she bore him two sons and a daughter named Jezreel, No-Mercy, and Nobody. Wow! How would you feel if your name was No-Mercy and Nobody? It’s like being a walking billboard of disaster. Isn’t this the type of blatant disobedience that Israel was portraying when they turned their backs on God?
Homer and Gomer’s love story is the parallel of the love story between God and the Israelites. God suffers when we disobey, but He loves us unconditionally and forgives us no matter how large the sin. The names Jezreel, No-Mercy, and Nobody were given to Hosea’s children as a reflection of how God felt about Israel’s separation from him.
In their disobedience, the Israelites fell into trying to do things in their own way. Situations and problems come into our lives and we try to resolve them in our own way without asking God for direction. There are times when we feel prosperous and lead a life that is less than honoring to God. We turn our back on God because at the moment we don’t think that we need him. Isn’t that like us? The great thing in all of this is that God doesn’t turn his back on us! In Gomer’s case, she was returned to the wilderness, courted, stripped of all material possessions. She was humbled to a point of recognizing that Hosea was what she needed, and everything she had been provided by God. The Israelites were humbled and turned from their disobedient ways back to God because everything they needed was supplied from God. Recognizing them as his children again, God gave Gomer revelation and an opportunity for a better life. and He gave mercy to No-Mercy and Nobody became Somebody. God reclaims his children.
Where are you today? Are you leaning into God trusting that He has a plan and purpose for you and that he hears your prayers and will answer? Or are you taking charge of your own life because you know what’s best or because you are in a hurry? Are you are telling God instead of asking him? Sometimes we must consider that the reason we are in our pit or rut is because of poor decision-making on our part?
There are times we are allowed to remain in our situations because we need to reflect, and we need to be humbled and brought to our knees before God. Gomer and the Israelites were no different, and neither are we. Despite the number of mistakes we make, the number of times we forget who we serve, the number of times we go our own way, the number of times disobedience brings us to our knees, isn’t there beauty and a great appreciation for knowing that we serve a God who is jealous, just, merciful, forgiving, and full of grace just for us? He has opened a door of hope for us. Take time to walk through and say Thank You!
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