The little book of Hosea in the Old Testament creates within us a hunger to understand more. How could the Lord, our heavenly Father who is Himself love (agape), who wants us all to be happy--how could He do what He did to poor Hosea, His faithful prophet? He commanded him to "love" a woman (not just pretend to) who seemed incapable of a fidelity-love (or heart-submission, Eph. 5:22) in return! (Hosea 3:1, 2).
Hosea's unhappy love affair became an illustration of Christ's unhappy love affair with Israel. Dare we say that His love affair with His remnant church is also an "unhappy" one (for Him!), as was Hosea's with the woman he truly loved? Why is this book in the Bible? Does it have special meaning for these last days, this great Day of Atonement in which we live today?
On Christ's part, to have to go on forgiving ad infinitum, generation after generation, century after century, loving His people with a conjugal love never requited--must this be for another century? Or forever? Must they be forever motivated by an egocentric desire for their personal reward? Can they never sense a concern for His heart-love, a purpose of their heart that He receive His reward transcending their yearning for their reward? Can His Bride-to-be at last "make herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb" (Rev. 19:7, 8)?
The book of Hosea says "yes!" It tells us to take heart; as Gomer at last grew up, we can grow up too! Hosea's "many days" of waiting ended before he died (cf. 3:3; chapter 14).
The story in the book ends in the major key to transcend its familiar minor key of conjugal frustration and pain. The wearied prophet, with Gomer his at last repentant wife, walks off stage hand in hand with her in an enduring "till-death-do-us-part" love. Heart-repentance on her part became finally possible. He could at last look into her eyes and see the long-awaited heart-understanding. We are comforted to know that Hosea finally joins Job, Moses, Joseph, yes David, at their end receiving "the desire of [their] heart" (Psalm 37:4).
We all have a "desire of thine heart" awaiting fulfillment; let it be a worthy one that we can cherish, unashamed, for eternity. Thank you, Gomer, for finally growing up; now must be time for us to grow up! But still, the Lord can't force us; we must move, ourselves.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 28, 2006.Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
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