Reading the story of Gomer and Hosea, it is a beautiful analogy of us, the sinners, and Christ. Few years ago, I was contemplating, why did God ask Hosea to take Gomer, the harlot, as his wife? I thought how poignant to be Hosea. He was a prophet, called by God to fulfil His missionary work to the Israel. Yet God asked him to marry Gomer, the harlot. Isn’t it injustice for Hosea? Isn’t it pity for him?
However, when we think of Hosea as the analogy of Christ, and Gomer as the analogy of us, isn’t it injustice for Christ to have us, the harlot (the sinners)? YES! On the other hand, since we are the harlot, isn’t it such a huge joy and blessing to have Christ as our Husband? Interesting when the perspective and the roles are changed, how we see things is also changed. It totaly turns the table.
The unfaithfulness of Gomer (us) is huge, as described in Hosea 2:5.
Hosea 2:5 (NKJV) For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has behaved shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, Who give me my bread and my water, My wool and my linen, My oil and my drink.’
“Go after my lovers”, it is the description of adultery. Adultery is the analogy of the worship idols, since both are unfaithful to their spouse (Jeremiah 5:7)
Jeremiah 5:7 (NKJV) “How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, Then they committed adultery And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
While the forms of idols are:
1. “Who give me my bread and my water,”: idol of daily needs (physically), something we use excessively to fulfill the desire of basic needs, outside of God.
2. “My wool and my linen,”: idol of pride (feeling, thought, will: mentally/psychology), something we put on as our cover, what makes us feel worthy, outside of God.
3. “My oil and my drink.’: idol of spiritual (spiritually): the spiritual gifts, the fruit of ministry, something that makes us feel great, but not God Himself.
We should be so grateful and be joyful, that we are not given the wages of our sins, rather Christ has redeemed us, make us His bride.
It is through Christ and in Christ we are redeemed from our idols, not by our might but by His might (Hosea 2:17)
Hosea 2:17 (NKJV) For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more.
Redeemed by Jesus, our Beloved Husband, our God, our Redeemer, and given His riches in us, satisfy our needs and longing, by His grace (Hosea 2:18-23). What a gospel! What a good news! What a beautiful grace!
Hosea 2:18-23 (NKJV) In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely.
“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy;
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord.
“It shall come to pass in that day That I will answer,” says the Lord; “I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth.
The earth shall answer With grain, With new wine, And with oil; They shall answer Jezreel.
Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’ “
When a Dream Comes True 