Verse 2: "When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, 'Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.'”
I was at dinner last night with a friend who is getting married soon. He told us how he proposed to his fiancé and how he can't wait to be married. It was easy to see love in his eyes as he shared his romantic story. He's excited because love is exciting.
This verse from Hosea is not very exciting. This verse is actually pretty disturbing. God commands Hosea to marry a promiscuous woman because Israel has been unfaithful. Hosea will be stuck with a wife that will cheat on him, because that's what God wants. God wants Hosea to know what it feels like to be betrayed and miserable. I wonder if God made a deal with him, maybe something like; "I know your life is going to be miserable, but you'll get a book of the Bible named after you."
Hosea marries a woman named Gomer and they have a couple kids who are given names (by God) that when translated mean "not loved" and "not my people." Can you imagine naming your child "not loved"? Every time they heard their name they would be reminded that they weren't loved. That's the worst name a child could ever be given.
At this point I want to ask "how is ruining Hosea's life and the lives of his children going to make God feel better?" But I think that would be missing the point.
We all, like Gomer, turn from the love of God. We all say and do things that are hurtful. At times in our lives we are unlovable, every day we could change our name to "sinner."
Yet God looks at us, His children, and calls us "precious," "holy" and "beloved." That's exciting!
