Introduction

Good morning, family! Today, we'll dive into the prophetic book of Hosea, specifically Hosea 1:1-3, and explore God's command, the symbolism of Gomer, God's forgiveness, and the saving grace of His unconditional love.

We'll be reminded, as the great Christian author, Philip Yancey, once said, "Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more—no amount of spiritual callisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries and divinity schools, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes. And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less."

Let's read the scripture together:

"The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel: When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, 'Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.' So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son."

Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, as we delve into Your sacred word today, we ask You to open our hearts and minds to understand the depths of Your forgiveness and the boundless nature of Your grace. Guide us, Lord, to see the symbolism and the lessons in the story of Hosea and Gomer, and help us to apply these truths to our daily lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let's get started.

God's Command

The book of Hosea is a powerful testament to God's unfailing love and His relentless pursuit of His people, even when they turn away from Him. The setting of Hosea 1:1-3 provides us with a backdrop against which we can better understand the profound message that God is trying to convey through His command to Hosea.

Verse 1: We are introduced us to the prophet Hosea, the son of Beeri, and informed that his prophetic ministry occurred during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel. This was a time of political and spiritual turmoil for the people of Israel. They were divided into two kingdoms, Judah in the south and Israel in the north, and were constantly under threat from foreign powers. More importantly, they had turned away from God and were worshipping idols, a spiritual adultery that deeply grieved God.

God gives Hosea a shocking command: "Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD." This command is startling not only because it goes against societal norms, but also because it goes against the religious laws that Hosea, as a prophet, would have been expected to uphold. Yet, Hosea obeys God's command and marries Gomer, a woman known for her unfaithfulness.

Not arbitrary: It serves a purpose in God's divine plan. Through Hosea's marriage to Gomer, God is creating a living metaphor for His relationship with the people of Israel. Just as Gomer is unfaithful to Hosea, the Israelites have been unfaithful to God. Yet, just as Hosea is commanded to love Gomer despite her unfaithfulness, God continues to love the Israelites despite their idolatry.

A test of Hosea's obedience and faith in God: By obeying God's command, Hosea is demonstrating his unwavering trust in God's wisdom and his willingness to serve as God's instrument, even when it means going against societal expectations and norms. This act of obedience is a powerful testament to Hosea's faith and his commitment to serving God.

Despite their unfaithfulness: God does not abandon the Israelites. Instead, He sends them a powerful message of love and forgiveness through the prophet Hosea and his marriage to Gomer.

The Symbolism

In spite of her infidelity, Hosea was commanded by God to love Gomer, just as God continued to love His people, despite their unfaithfulness ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO