How many times do you forgive someone for the same offence before turning your back on them? (I’m not talking about abuse.) Jesus’s 70 times 7 seems unrealistic to us humans. Right?
Long ago, the prophet Hosea endured years in which his wife Gomer’s unfaithfulness defied God’s laws of marriage—not once, not twice, but at least three times. For several years, God directed Hosea to forgive and continue loving his wayward wife in spite of the pain, shame and family hardship her lifestyle caused. The Lord used this marriage to demonstrate his own love and grace to his chosen people who rejected him, the One, True God, and to worship idols as the other nations did. The Hebrews lived in cycles when they served God, then backslid into their old ways. Their rebellion brought punishment—often by being conquered by an enemy or famine. Eventually, the people repented and the Lord restored them, giving them peace again. Sadly, the cycle repeated innumerable times.
Once, many years into Hosea’s marriage when Gomer had left her family the third time and returned to prostitution, the Lord commanded him to turn his back on his wife. She would experience a wilderness.
We would expect this rejection, certainly after repeated offences. Yet, what does the Lord ultimately do? He enables his prophet to exercise unlimited love, grace and forgiveness to his undeserving wife. He buys her out of slavery, comforts her, and restores all that he had taken away.
Gomer worshiped man-made idols, sex, material goods—things that kept her Creator out of her life. She had heard about God, but chose to ignore him and reject the blessings he offered her through a good husband. Many of Gomer’s contemporaries would have been grateful for all she had and gladly traded places with her; so why wasn’t security, unconditional love, and family enough for Gomer? She thought it was up to her, and only her, to find satisfaction and happiness in her own way and not try to measure up to God’s standards.
Most of us have lives that, on the surface, appear drastically different from Gomer’s; but inside, we may not be that different at all. We feel inadequate, run from our past, are desperately looking for the next thing that will bring us significance, admiration or happiness. We want to answer to no one but ourselves, least of all to a Creator who—in our minds—may not even exist.
Gomer tried to fill the empty places in her heart with everything except the one necessary thing: A relationship with the true God.
What holds you back from giving yourself fully to the Lord? In my life, impatience caused me to take control of situations when I knew that something was wrong, but went ahead anyway. One particular time it was a disaster and robbed me of serving the Lord in ministry for a long time. I still have to fight thoughts that make me think I’m undeserving and inadequate. Only scripture assures me these are lies and I believe God’s word is true. I hope you can cling to our only hope as I am learning to do. Turn off the voice of the enemy and believe.
- Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. (Romans 8:1)
- As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from (Psalm 103:12)
- For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13)
- The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
In this fictionalized story from scripture’s Book of Hosea, we learn about Gomer, who was known only as a prostitute and adulteress. Who was she prior to marriage and why, when offered genuine love and compassion, did she reject them in favor of a lifestyle where she faces degradation and abuse? We feel Gomer’s inner turmoil as she struggles to adapt to new roles of wife and mother, and often rejected by a culture where the law of the land allows the death penalty for adultery.
Her friends are confounded by her choice to return to prostitution when they would give anything for the opportunities offered to her for a better life with a good man.
Delve into the conflicting emotions of Hosea who obeys HaShem’s call on his life to marry a harlot. Friends and family advise him against making this decision, not understanding his commitment to follow what they deem to be a fantasy. With little support, he goes ahead with his plan in obedience to the Lord. Gomer, the woman he chooses, is a reluctant bride who does not know what true love looks like, and falls back into her old ways.
When faced with Gomer’s infidelity, Hosea fluctuates between grief and anger, faith and hope. This long journey teaches him about the heart of HaShem for the unfaithful nation of Israel in 8th century BC and prepares him for sixty years of prophetic ministry.
Find yourself in this tangled emotional quandary, knowing what is right, yet like Gomer, clinging to a familiar, destructive lifestyle even after HaShem offers her a new life. And for Hosea, who hears and obeys the call of HaShem, fighting against opposing voices to stand his ground for what he believes.
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Floss Craig published her second book, Allured into the Wilderness in April 2021. This novel and a 2008 novella, A Star Rises in Persia, stem from her interest in Bible characters and the lessons they teach, even for contemporary times. Many of her stories can be found in her blog at: www.flosscraig.wordpress.com.
In an effort to continually improve her writing, Floss is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and a frequent attender at writers’ conferences.
While working at a counseling center, Floss published articles on topics relating to family and Christian living, and served as an officer of a writers’ club at a community college.
She enjoys travel and has visited many foreign countries including Turkey, Russia and Israel; and in her twenties, spent three months backing in Europe.
Now that her six children are grown and has nine grandchildren, Floss moved from Pennsylvania to Colorado. Since retiring in 2018, Floss enjoys more time to write, take art classes, and hike, in addition to being a member of a local book club and helping with childcare.