Yesterday, a friend sent me a song they wrote about the story of Hosea and Gomer. After listening to it way too many times, I settled into my lil’ coffee nook and decided to re-read the story that I had become too familiar with. Jesus wrecked me. Lemme tell you ’bout it.
In the book of Hosea, we are told the story of him and his wife Gomer, and the comparison of their relationship to ours with Christ.
The Lord spoke to Hosea and told him to take Gomer, a prostitute, to be his wife and to have a family.
They had three children, Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, and Lo-Ammi; but these names hold a different tone when translated, but all three names were given by God — who had a purpose for them.
Jezreel – A man by the name of Jehu carried out God’s judgment by putting the last of Omri’s Dynasty to the sword at the city of Jezreel (2 Kings 9-10). The Lord condemned him for this and instructed Hosea to name his firstborn Jezreel to symbolize Jehu’s dynasty, which proved to be wicked and would suffer and die violently.
Lo-ruhamah – The Lord instructed for the second child, a daughter, to be named No Compassion, or Lo-ruhamah. In Hosea 1:6-7, the Lord instructed for her to have this name as a symbol of how Isreal had continually been unfaithful to Him and forfeited His love.
Lo-Ammi – Gomer conceived a third child, another son, and the Lord instructed for this child’s name to be Not My People or Lo-Ammi. This was a symbolic proclamation of how Isreal had broken a covenant with God.
Ouch.
No matter who you are, you’ve thought about your future or soon-to-be marriage. I know I have… WAY too much. So just take a minute and imagine the Lord calling you to marry a prostitute and have children that are named after His wrath and judgment. Imagine how Hosea felt.
After the three children were born, Gomer committed adultery. She stepped out on the man who took her in, gave her a permanent home, gave her everything she needed, and provided for her so that she would never have to (or want to) return to her lifestyle of sin…but she did.
The Lord instructed Hosea to go and get her.
“Then the Lord said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.'” Hosea 3:1
So what did Hosea do?
“So I bought her for 15 shekels of silver and nine bushels of barley.” Hosea 3:2
Hosea. Went. And. Bought. His. Wife. Back.
woah…what a story.
You see, Hosea had the option to be disobedient to the Lord’s instruction. Instead, he was obedient. He went, he bought his wife back, he took her home, and he loved her.
I want you to know how important this story is.
This a story that shows that though the Israelites had broken their covenant with the Lord and turned away from Him, he forgave them and the relationship between God and the Israelites was restored.
But this is also a story for us — not just to read, not just to enjoy, but to step back…and relate to our relationship with the Lord.
We were created to be in an intimate relationship with God, but when sin came into the world it created a chasm between us and God. We turned to everything else to satisfy our flesh.
We have become prostitutes to our sin, and we love it.
We sell ourselves to our sin, to what this world offers. We partake in any and everything that offers hope, peace, and happiness. We are adulterers and turn our back on God.
So he sent Jesus, His only son, to be a holy and perfect sacrifice.
Jesus lived a perfect life. Jesus loves us. He came for us.
Jesus loves us, the Church–His bride, so much that he, through the instruction of His Father, bought us back.
He didn’t pay with cash, credit, shekels, or venmo.
He paid with His life, with His blood.
And then He rose. He went from dead to alive.
Because of this, we have an invitation to go back home. He went to the cross and paid our debt in full. No matter what we have sold ourselves out to, no matter how much of ourselves we have spent… He. Has. Paid. It. In. Full.
So what are you selling yourself to?
Alcohol? Drugs? Sex? Comparison? Gossip? Gluttony? Lies?
No matter the sin, no matter how much of yourself you have sold into the lies and temporary fulfillment of this world, HE HAS PAID YOUR DEBT. HE HAS BOUGHT YOU BACK.
So turn from your adulteries brothers and sisters. He has made a home for you, in His house.
The Lord loves you, He pursues you, He is your groom, and you are His bride.
You have no reason to live in guilt, shame, old habits, or habitual sin.
He has covered it all in His blood. He has forgiven you. He loves you.
Ask for forgiveness, be forgiven, surrender to Him…the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Alpha Omega.
And go home.
In His Love,
CarrieLiz
Carrie Liz 
Good stuff
Krusty….
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