Yahweh said to me, "Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins." So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. I said to her, "You shall stay with me many days. You shall not play the prostitute, and you shall not be with any other man. I will also be so toward you." Hosea 3:1'3 WEB.The prophet Hosea was a young man when the Lord told him to marry, so he proposed to a woman named Gomer. They married and had three children together. Though the last two may not have been his. Hosea doesn't go into detail, but they divorced soon after the third child was born. Then Gomer took her adultery to the next level by turning pro and becoming a prostitute.
The entire book of Hosea is a picture of God's people cheating on Him and worshipping other gods like baal. "You shall have no other gods before Me" has always been a problem for His people. They want what they want, and they want it right now.
Some believe that God is a simpleton and doesn't notice their actions. Then, when something doesn't go as planned in their life, they blame Him like it is His fault. This is a two-way relationship: He first loved us (1 John 4:19), but we are to love Him (Matthew 23:37).
Gomer's own lust created her problems. She wanted to be with Hosea but with other men as well. Israel wanted to be called God's people but enjoy the rituals of other gods as well. Pagan worship often involved sex with cult prostitutes, which appealed to their flesh.
God told Hosea to take Gomer back again, even though she was an adulteress. In the same way, He was giving His people a second chance at being His alone. So Hosea gave all the money he had and made up the rest in barley to buy back his wife, though she had become a prostitute.
God continues to show mercy to us even when we sin beyond our comprehension of redemption. You are never too far gone, but given time, your cheating heart will always tell on you.
After all that Gomer had done, Hosea bought her back. Then he told her that she could no longer live as she had been. This was a fresh start, a new beginning. From now on, you do right by me, and I will do right by you. Though he gave her another chance on their relationship, Hosea watched her closely to see if she would fall back into her old ways (Hosea 3:3).
Our relationship with God is pictured like a marriage all through the Bible. Ezekiel 16:32 speaks of an unfaithful wife who chased after others instead of her husband. It was a picture of His people chasing other gods. Yet, after all of our cheating is done, the Lord will take us back, but He will watch us carefully to see if we turn back to our old ways. How will we act when given another chance at the relationship?
No matter what you have done, God gave His Son Jesus to buy you back with His own precious blood. He can wipe out the past, but then it is our move. Gomer couldn't have her old life and her husband simultaneously. Neither can we live our old life and continue to walk with the Lord. The old has been crucified with Christ. Don't resurrect them.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving me another chance when I stumble. I choose You! Lord, teach me to love You as You love me. Please fill me with Your presence, and help me see things through Your eyes. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page:
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Amen
Amen
Amen !
Heavenly Father, I choose you. Amen!
We choose you Heavenly Father. Amen
Amen
Amen. Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your forgiveness of past sins. I choose You in my life. Amen
Amen
Amen. Thank you Jesus for Your forgiveness, Your mercy and Your grace which I do not deserve. The older I get, the more I see them ever present in my life. Forgive me for not seeing them and thanking You sooner. I know You have always been with me, but I've had my eyes on my circumstances and pain. Your grace truly is sufficient for me.... I love You Jesus.
PRAISE GOD THAT HE LOVES ME...HE'S THE ONLY ONE I CAN TRUST WITH MY LIFE
AMEN !
XO
SHARON
Thank You Father For Giving Me And My Family And Friends Another Chance To Get It Right Amen Good Morning Everyone
Thank You Jesus for saving us! Amen.
Amen!!
Amen thank you for your patience Father God
Praise the Lord for His gracious patience! Lord, teach me to love You as You love me. Please fill me with Your presence, and help me see things through Your eyes. Amen
Dear God give me wisdom and open my mind to your word so I can grow as a Christian. Amen
Heavenly Father I thank You for Your forgiveness and help us to be closer to You at all times, to feel proud of our relationship with You. In Your Son Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen.
Great devotional Pastor, God bless you and Sylvia.
Amen!
Amen
Amen!
Thank you, Father God for always loving me and always forgiving and bringing me back when I have strayed from your holy ways. I want to follow your ways and be pure in heart and seek your face daily. Father renew a right heart in me and direct my path, in the name of Jesus I pray!!