Hosea 1:2-3, 2:2-5; Romans 8:28-29
American audiences have been entertained for decades by the soap operas General Hospital, All My Children, and The Young and The Restless. Soap operas are full of drama: unbridled emotions, infidelity, impulsiveness, jealousy, emotional pain, sickness and imprisonment. At times, the drama seems to echo our own experience, and we feel as though we have been thrust into a role we did not choose. As participants in God’s Salvation Epic we must remember when the curtain falls then God’s goodness, hope, comfort and peace will rise in our lives.
We Must Man Our Parts. Hosea was a real man and Gomer was a real woman. God was forthright in commanding Hosea to marry a woman who would be unfaithful and a serial adulteress after becoming married and a mother. In spite of the warning, Hosea willingly obeyed God and married Gomer.
Only Grace Can Make Sense Out of Nonsense. Grace is powerful: it can change a person, a situation and it moves through us. Hosea was God’s channel of grace to Gomer. Hosea’s marriage, symbolic of God’s relationship to Israel, showed how difficult a relationship can be. It also shows that not everyone will accept and positively respond to our graciousness, but that is our role to show God’s grace.
Love Hurts. By extending ourselves in love, we become vulnerable to pain. Hosea’s marriage was full of disappointment with an unfaithful wife who was mother to his sons. He even was required to bid at auction to keep her out of slavery when she was in deep debt and abandoned by her lovers. God had Hosea demonstrate a deep commitment and grace to his willful, unfaithful wife, illustrating God’s love and patience to His unfaithful people.