The Cost Of His Love Series

“The Cost of His Love”

Hosea 3:1-3

Steve Hanchett, pastor

March 4, 2001

Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”

So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley.

And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man - so too, will I be toward you.”

Joshua couldn’t have been more proud when his son was born. He named him Adam. During Adam’s childhood, Joshua would often play with him and teach him about life and love. Joshua was a proud daddy. To Adam he was a hero to be mimicked.

When Adam turned sixteen things began to change. His clothes, his hair, and his music were all new, strange and somewhat frightening to Joshua. Without warning their warm and loving relationship turned cold and bitter. Arguments filled the air that was once charmed with laughter.

By the summer of Adam’s seventeen birthday he had decided he had enough of his father’s rules, so he left. It wasn’t a well planned exit. There was a quarrel, threats, a few things thrown into a backpack and a hasty departure for parts unknown.

Joshua kept up with his son, even though Adam thought his father had no idea where he was or what he was doing. Joshua knew a lot of people and they were always ready to tell what they knew about Adam’s doings. The things Joshua heard about Adam broke his heart, but never diminished his love.

One evening the phone rang at Joshua’s home. “Joshua, I’ve got some bad news for you,” the voice on the line said.

“What’s wrong? It’s Adam, isn’t it?” Joshua replied.

“Yes, it is. I just heard that he has been arrested and he is in jail. I’m sorry Joshua. I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but I thought you would want to know.”

“Thanks Mike. I appreciate you telling me.”

After hanging up, Joshua stood frozen, eyes fixed on the floor, but seeing nothing. “What should I do,” he wondered allowed. “Where did I go wrong?”

A few hours later as Adam sat in the corner of a holding cell, he heard a familiar voice. “Adam would you like to come home now?”

Looking up he could hardly believe he saw his father standing on the other side of the steel bars. Hot tears began to stream down Adam’s face. “I’m sorry dad. I guess I’ve really messed things up. Why are you here?”

“I’m here to take you home, if you want to go.”

“But dad I don’t have any money and I can’t pay the bail or the fine to get out of this mess.”

“I know, son. I’ve already paid the fine. All I want to know is are you ready to come home?”

We are, each one of us, the followers of Adam. We have rebelled against our father, we’ve left our home and wandered about in this world. We declared our independence from our Father and as a result we have ended up becoming slaves to sin and Satan. We find ourselves locked in a prison of our own selfishness with no spiritual currency with which could buy our way out. We need someone to come and pay our penalty so that we can be set free. That is what Jesus Christ has done. That is what the story of Hosea and Gomer is about.

We have already seen that this story contains a picture of what it means to be lost. Lostness can be described as distance, slavery, wickedness and peril. We have already seen that this is a story of love. God’s love involves a dilemma, it inspired His deeds and is infused with His devotion. In this Gospel According to Hosea we have already seen the “Condition of the Lost,” and the “Compassion of the Lord.” Today we turn to the next aspect of the Gospel According to Hosea: “The Cost of His Love.”

What price did Christ pay to love us? What does it mean for Him to love us? How did He express His love? If His love caused Him to act, what does it mean for us personally?

In this story we are portrayed by Gomer. Her wicked choices and unfaithfulness toward Hosea are a picture of our sin and unfaithfulness toward God. Her perilous position and her slavery are a parable of our peril and our spiritual slavery to sin.

Hosea (a name which is a derivative of Joshua and means salvation) is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse two describes Hosea’s actions on behalf of Gomer. They are relatively simple words. While we may not relate to what was happening on a cultural level, we can’t help but relate to Hosea on an emotional level. The depth of his love and the magnitude of his sacrifice cannot be missed. Surely, Hosea is an example of human grace, forgiveness, dedication and commitment. No doubt married couples who are experiencing pain in their relationship can learn a lot from Hosea. He teaches us that there is more you can do than just “your duty.” You can give your all for the sake of restoring the romance and the relationship.