This blog is the first in a three-part series on the book of Hosea.

When I first met my wife Jayne I didn’t know anything about her other than that she had blonde hair, blue eyes, looked good and was single! 14 years later I know quite a bit more about her. For example, I know that she is a dessert person rather than a starter person. I know that she is creative, which is a good thing until there is a creative explosion in her head of décor changes that she wants to make in our house! I know that she values time with family over material things. All these things and more I have learned over the years as I have pursued her and spent time with her.

This pursuit hasn’t been a chore or something I dreaded doing, but rather something I wanted to do. I wanted to see her again the day after we first met. I saw something in her that drew me to her and made me want to know more. I saw something of her beauty.

When I became a Christian I entered into an eternity–long relationship with Jesus. But if I’m honest there are times when the relationship gets a bit stagnant and Christianity becomes a little bit of sideshow rather than the main thing. How could this possibly happen? I think it’s, at least partially, because I lose sight of the beauty of Jesus that invites me to discover more. My life becomes more consumed with observing rules than gazing on the Ruler. Thankfully God never loses sight of me and never stops delighting in me. He relentlessly lavishes His grace, mercy and blessings on my life. It’s this truth that warms my heart to His and makes me want to pursue Him and know Him more.

One of my favourite pictures of this in the Bible is in the account of Hosea and his unfaithful wife. Now, if you’re looking some guidance on choosing a boyfriend or girlfriend, then this is probably not your go-to book! God’s choice of a wife for Hosea was not exactly what you would expect, but He had a plan in it all.

Hosea takes a woman called Gomer to be his wife. But before he gets down on one knee and pops the big question, God gives him a bit of a heads up on what she will be like—an unfaithful, 2-timing, prostitute (Hosea 1:2)! Not exactly the type of thing that would draw you to marry someone. But God was going to use this painful marriage to paint a picture of what it was like for Him as the faithful Husband (Hosea) to be in a relationship with Israel the unfaithful bride (Gomer).

Despite the unnerving insight into his future wife, Hosea obeys God and marries Gomer. Things at first were probably good—wedding day, honeymoon, setting up home together. Then imagine the excitement of finding out that they were going to have their first baby together (1:3). They didn’t have to worry about looking up endless baby names as God had already this picked out. Then the big day finally arrives and Jezreel is born! But then things start to go downhill as we begin to see evidence of God’s forewarning about Gomer’s rebellious ways begin to unfold. In v3 the text says that she bore ‘him,’ Hosea, a son, but when speaking of the other two children (1:6 & 8) it simply says that she bore a son. No mention of Hosea! This, together with what we read in chapter 2 of her promiscuous ways, would point to the heart-breaking truth that Hosea is not the father of her next two children. In chapter 2 we discover that Gomer has left Hosea to go after her lovers. And this hasn’t happened by accident, but she has been intentional:

…adorned herself with her ring and jewellery, and went after her lovers.1

She hasn’t just fallen prey to her lovers, but has gone looking for them.

This all seems so heartless, so cold. What about Hosea? What about her sons? I read this and think, how could someone be so cruel? Does she have no shame for her actions? Then it hits me. This is me. I am also the cheating, heartless adulterer. In the immediate context of this book Gomer was to be a picture of Israel who were God’s chosen people. In our context today she is still a picture of God’s chosen people. Those who have put their faith and trust in God. Me! You, if you are a Christian. As I look at Gomer and how she constantly ran after other lovers, instead of judging her I have to identify with her. I choose other things over God every day. I choose the gods of anger, impatience, pride, worry, revenge, selfishness…and the list goes on. I chose to love these more than loving God and His ways. They are who I cheat on God with.

So the question is, what will Hosea do? How will he respond to this unfaithful bride? Modern day reasoning would say leave her. File for divorce. She’s not worth it. If she’s going to treat you like this, then she deserves to be treated the same way. So if we see this as being a reasonable response for Hosea, surely it also has to translate into a reasonable response by God to us. Surely God is well within His rights to divorce us and never allow us near Him again. Hosea’s response to Gomer is so critical if this is to be a picture of God’s response to us. Will it be too painful or will he pursue her?

1. Hosea 2:13, ESV.