Q4. Hosea and Gomer

[lighthouse2014]

The Lord tells his prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute who would represent Israel the adulterous unfaithful Israel.

The story of Hosea and Gomer teaches us that Israel has gone whoring after other gods and has forgotten their true God. This illustrates God's relationship with Israel, after all has done for them and displaying his love for them, they have forgotten him and followed other foreign gods.

This story of Hosea purchasing Gomer back and bringing her back into his house and love displays God's loving grace to bring Israel back to himself. This is indeed a show of Gods willingness to show his grace to them, for they have only to accept him as their only true God, who has cared for them ever since they left Egypt.     

[Irmela]

Q4. (Hosea 1-3)

Why does Yahweh tell His prophet to marry a girl of ill repute?

What does the story of Hosea and Gomer teach us?

How does the story illustrate God's relationship with Israel?

What does it teach about grace?

 In the O.T. Israel is often depicted as Yahweh's wife, who has sometimes prostituted herself with other gods.

• Israel is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.   With the prophet marrying a girl of ill repute, God is giving His people a clear picture of what they have done.  
• From the story of Hosea and Gomer we learn that God is faithful in spite of our unfaithfulness. God showers us with love in spite of the fact that we have not turned away from our sins.  We learn that grace abounds. Gomer was given what she did not deserve.  She was given a chance to change.  God is like that  .  .  .   full of grace.  We did not deserve His forgiveness, yet He offers it to us.  
• In spite of Israel turning away to serve other gods, again and again,  God forgave them again and yet again.  He protected them. He did not leave them in the lurch.
• Gomer received undeserved favour.  Hosea took her back as his wife.  Not as a slave.  She was given position.  She was not looked down upon in spite of the state she was in.  God's grace is like that, He forgives and restores us as His children.  It sure is undeserved.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:   While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

 

[Trusting God]

God tells Hosea to marry a woman of ill-repute to illustrate His love for Israel, and their unfaithfulness to Him.  Hosea, an Old Testament prophet, whose life illustrates how God looked at Israel during their times of rebellion.  This story teaches us that God looks unfavorably upon sin, but He is constantly reaching out to us to repent, and turn back to Him.  

God's relationship in this story shows how He is ready to redeem and to forgive Israel of their wicked and sinful choices if they would make the choice to live their lives completely for Him.  Grace speaks of restoration.  Like Israel, we too will sin, but it is God's love, mercy, and compassion that will bring us back to Him.  Praise the Lord.  He never gives up on His children.

[faith & hope 2017]

Yahweh tells His prophet Hosea to marry a girl of ill repute so that the Israelites will see their own ways of unfaithfulness.  I can imagine that as the people start questioning Hosea of his relationship with such a woman who is sleeping around, that He was able to responds to them of the things they did in not obeying Yahweh.  I can imagine when the people said to him "how do take that, she's no good for you" that Hosea respond "how is that you turn your back on Yahweh when He has been faithful to you"? 

The story of Hosea and Gomer teaches us many things.  For example, obedience.  Hosea was obedient when Yahweh commanded him to do things that was truly thought of as despicable.  Even though, it may have cause damage to reputation as a prophet, it unmistakeably strengthen his relationship with Yahweh.  He married the prostiture (which made her father happy), he gave the children borned to her strange names that depicts how Yahweh felt about the Israelites and he had to care for these children.  Then he had to find her and pay for her (he was not a wealthy man) to bring her back home.  Amazing.  This story also illustrates hope in the worst of situations.  Yahweh always presents a "ray of hope."  Their relationship was restored.  With hope there is forgiveness.  

The story illustrates God's undying love for His people.  Yahweh has given so much to and for us.  We should never forsake His love like the Israelites. 

The story of Homer and Gomer clearly illustrates Yahweh's grace, unmerited favor. His grace is an act of His love for us.  His grace never changes.  Yahweh is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone, including you and me) to come to repentance--2 Peter 3:9-10. 

 

[Old Jerry]

I think that Yahweh told the prophet to marry a girl of ill repute to show him the kind of people that he was dealing with. This story teaches us that we can be forgiven for all of our sins if we just repent and return to God.

[Lisa Wolf]

Q4. (Hosea 1-3) Why does Yahweh tell his prophet to marry a girl of ill repute? What does the story of Hosea and Gomer teach us? How does the story illustrate God’s relationship with Israel? What does it teach about grace? 

When children are young their thinking is very concrete.  Once a Kindergarten student of mine refused to walk on the blacktop on the playground.  In questioning, I discovered that she believed the devil to be under there because it was black.  This literal thinking reminds of the Hosea story.  Often in the Old Testament God showed His people very concrete examples of what in the New Testament He does through the Spirit.  Hosea and Gomer literally show us the loving God going back to the rebellious wife.  This illustration demonstrates God incredible love for us.  He revealed Himself to Moses as abounding in Love; through this story of Hosea and Gomer He proves that. Further, He demonstrates giving undeserved grace.