Redeemed from Rebellion
Hosea 3: 1-3
Last week we were introduced to the prophet Hosea, and the difficult situations brought upon the family due to the infidelity of his wife, Gomer. God planned to use this most difficult situation to teach Israel a lesson about their sin, and His unwavering love.
Chapter two dealt with God’s punishment of sin and His marvelous grace in the life of Gomer. Although she had wandered in sin, just like the nation of Israel, God remained merciful and gracious toward her. She remained committed to her immoral lifestyle, and had brought much pain and despair to her family. Apparently Gomer agreed to sell herself into slavery to a man, with whom she had developed an adulterous relationship. She remained the wife of Hosea, and yet she is now set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder at the slave market.
There are many principles that one could consider in this passage. There are valuable lessons regarding faithfulness within marriage, and our responsibilities to our spouse. While these are certainly needful, especially in our modern day, the greatest principle revealed is the love of Christ for those who are undeserving. I want to approach our text through the lens of the Gospel. Let’s take a few moments to consider the details revealed as we think on: Redeemed from Rebellion.
I. The Expectation Revealed (1) – Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. As we move through our text today, bear in mind that Gomer is enslaved due to her infidelity, and set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Consider:
A. The Participation – Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress. God had asked Hosea to take Gomer as his wife, knowing she would not remain faithful to him. True to God’s warning, Gomer had lived a life of adultery, bringing shame and despair to Hosea and his family. Likely she has been gone from the home for some time, living in an adulterous relationship with another man. Many of us cannot understand the pain Hosea had endured, and yet God now commanded him to go love her, even though she had been unfaithful to him on numerous occasions.
Unfortunately this scene continues to repeat itself in marriages and homes around the world. Many choose to satisfy their fleshly desires instead of remaining committed to their marriage vows. Even if you haven’t dealt with such infidelity, we have all suffered pain and despair through relationships with others. No doubt, most have endured betrayal at some point in life. While it is never easy, as believers, we are expected to love those who have wronged us. Our love for others cannot be based upon their actions or behavior. We are not expected to endorse or encourage their sin, but we must be willing to love as Christ loved us.
B. The Principle (1) – Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. I am sure this was difficult for Hosea. He may have questioned why the Lord wanted him to provide such a vivid example before Israel, especially when this example required great sacrifice on his part. Through Hosea’s love and devotion to Gomer, even though she had been unfaithful, God would affirm His unwavering love for Israel. Like Hosea, God had not approved of the idolatry and immorality of Israel, but His love for them remained. God would demonstrate His love for Israel through the faithfulness of Hosea to Gomer.
Such love is difficult to adequately comprehend. Most people eventually reach a point in life when they can no longer endure. While their love may remain, they reach a point where they no longer desire a relationship with those who have wronged them. While we are unable to possess or show such love, I am glad the Lord was able and willing. The love of Hosea for Gomer paints a beautiful picture of Christ’s love for us. Like Gomer, we sought only to please the flesh. Had we received what we deserved, we would have been left enslaved to our sin, and forced to face the consequences. While we were yet undeserving, Christ extended His grace and love toward us. He loved us when we were unlovable! Eph.2:4-5 – But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)
II. The Expense Involved (2) – So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley. Here we discover Hosea’s obedience to God and his faithfulness to Gomer as he ransomed her from slavery. Consider:
A. The Payment – Hosea made his way to the slave market, committed to ransom Gomer. The Bible does not say, but it is quite possible she knew Hosea was the one bidding on her. She was the one responsible for her condition. He had tried to walk with the Lord and remained committed to the marriage, and yet he was the one who had to pay for her infidelity. Imagine how she must have felt as Hosea offered his bids to purchase her from slavery. He paid fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer and a half of barely – roughly a month’s supply. Some scholars agree the barley would have been worth about fifteen pieces of silver as well, bringing her purchase price to thirty pieces of silver, the common price of a slave.
Isn’t that a beautiful picture of what our Lord did for each of us? He was innocent, having committed no sin; we were guilty and condemned, and yet He was willing to pay the debt we owed. The payment for our sin cost much more than thirty pieces of silver, although that was the price at which Jesus was betrayed of Judas. He gave His life on the cross to purchase our redemption! As mankind stood before God, guilty and condemned in sin, Jesus stepped forth and willingly paid the debt we owed as He died in our place on Calvary! 1 John 4:10 – Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
B. The Provision (2) – Apparently the man Gomer had sold herself unto no longer wanted her. He quickly tired of Gomer and was willing to sell her to the highest bidder. Because of her sin, she had become nothing more than a piece of property to be bought and sold at the slave market. However, where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Hosea stepped forth and paid the ransom for her, settling the debt she owed, and freeing her from slavery. The debt was settled, and she would no longer have to worry about being enslaved. She had been set free, and was invited to return home with Hosea.
That is exactly what Christ did for us as He bled and died on the cross. He paid the debt we owed, a price we were unable to pay. He offered Himself the atoning sacrifice for our sin, forever appeasing the righteous demands of the Father. Those who are saved by grace have been set free from the slavery and condemnation of sin. Our debt is forever settled and we are free in Christ! Rom.8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
III. The Entitlement Provided (3) – And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. Here we discover the standing Gomer had following her deliverance from slavery. Consider:
A. The Boundaries (3a) – And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days. When they returned home, Hosea set some boundaries for Gomer. She was required to abide within the home for many days. Hosea wanted to ensure she would remain faithful, knowing she would be tempted to return to her former lifestyle. Trust had been broken and it would need to be restored.
This serves as a reminder of our obligation to remain faithful to our Lord and Savior. He paid a great price to redeem us from sin. We are no longer our own. As believers, we must live in a way that pleases our Lord and bears witness of His grace. We must guard our lives and resist the temptation to step outside the boundaries our Lord has set. We must seek to honor Him; the believer cannot engage in the lusts of the flesh and walk in fellowship with Christ!
B. The Behavior (3b) – thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man. Hosea set limits on where Gomer could go, and he also revealed his expectations regarding her behavior. The days of immorality and adultery were over. He expected Gomer to abandon the behavior of her past and remain faithful to him alone.
This principle applies to every believer as well. We cannot indulge the flesh and please the Lord at the same time. Our lives and behavior must reflect the grace of our Lord and the miraculous transformation that took place at salvation. Our lives must be lived in devotion to Christ, not in an effort to please the flesh. Rom.6:2 – …How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Such commitment and devotion is impossible within ourselves, but the Lord provides the strength we need to flee the flesh and resist temptation. Gal.2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
C. The Blessing (3c) – so will I also be for thee. Human reasoning would have argued that Gomer received what she deserved. She had lived a life of sin and her sin caught up with her. She was forced to face the consequences of her decision. Most would have had no compassion and left her in the difficulty she faced. Hosea showed grace unto her, welcoming her back into the home, and promising to remain faithful unto her. The sin of her past had been forgiven, and she would enjoy all the blessing and benefits of the home.
None could deny Hosea offered a great deal of grace. While I agree, I am also aware that we too have received much grace. The Lord did not hold our sin against us following salvation. In fact, it has been thrown into the sea of God’s forgetfulness. He has chosen to forget the sin of our past; they have been removed as far as the east is from the west. We are accepted of God because of the righteousness of Christ. Gomer’s sin was never in question. She was guilty, but grace exceeded sin. So it is with those who come to Christ in salvation. Our sin is undeniable, but grace stands at the forefront, cleansing our sin! We could never deserve what Christ has provided, but He offers it freely to all who come to Him by faith!
Conclusion: We have considered a wonderful passage of grace today. We all can relate to these verses. Like Gomer, we all stood condemned of sin, in need of redemption. Christ has already paid the price to redeem us from our sin. Have you responded to His gracious offer of salvation? If not, I urge you to come today, repent of your sin, and believe in Christ for salvation.
Maybe you are here today and have been wronged by a loved one. Like Hosea, your faithfulness to the relationship has been shunned and you feel betrayed. Forgiveness and reconciliation can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Come to the Lord for wisdom today.
