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True Love

Hosea's story is a painful tale of love and unfaithfulness.

Hosea 1:2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea, Go take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath comitted great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

Hosea obeyed God's instructions to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Her unfaithfulness to him illustrated Israel's unfaithfulness to God.
Hosea loved Gomer, even though her repeated betrayals caused him great pain. Apparently Gomer thought Hosea did not provide the things she "needed" in order to be happy, so she looked elsewhere. Other men gave her fine clothing, jewels, rich food, and drinks for her favors. But through it all, Hosea remained faithful.
Yet Gomer continued down her same path. Eventually she became a slave. Perhaps only then did she begin to appreciate what she had scorned in the past. Hosea had been good to her, and she missed her children. When she was at her lowest, Hosea redeemed her, buying her freedom for fifteen pieces of silver, half the going price of a slave. God had told him to take her back. As a symbol of God's love for Israel, Hosea obeyed. Everyone in town knew about Gomer. People probably thought Hosea was a fool to forgive her and still want her as his wife. This is how God responds to us. Hosea shared God's pain first hand. When he prophesied of God's covenant love, no one could question his sencerity.

Hosea 2:19-20 And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. (20) I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and though shall know the Lord.

A prophet called to speak for God to the people often paid a high price to understand God's heart.
Gomer shows us that no matter how low we get, God does not cease to love and care for us. There is a way back, a home in Him to return to. He has purchased us out of slavery with the blood of His only son, Jesus. The greatest of our sin is the best reason to go to Him, not a reason to stay away from Him.

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinner to repent.
Hosea 3:1 Then said the Lord unto me, Go yea, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adultress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who looks to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

Israel would experience a time of purifcation in a foreign land, but God would still love the people and would be willing to accept them back. He commanded Hosea to show the same forgiving spirit to Gomer. Although Hosea had good reason to divorce her, he was told to buy her back and love her.