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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 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 also enjoy the rituals of other gods. 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 in 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: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ 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: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.