I feel like I haven't written anything in a while and normally my mind is full of things I want to share, but I've had a hard time lately trying to figure out exactly what I want to share. Anyways...just this morning I was sitting reading my Bible. Something led me to the book of Hosea. Hosea is one of those books of the Bible that I think people forget about. Since it's not Genesis or in the new testament, I feel it is easily forgotten (at least by me). One of the main reasons I even know about this book is because of an incredible book I read years ago called, "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. If you haven't read this book, I recommend you running out to get it TODAY because it is THE BEST book/love story EVER. This book, "Redeeming Love" is fiction, but it is based on the book of Hosea and it's incredible.
Basic Synopsis: The book of Hosea is a love story--real, tragic and true. Transcending the tale of young man and wife, it tells of God's love for his people and the response of his "bride". A covenant had been made and God had been faithful. But Israel, like Gomer, was adulterous and unfaithful, spurning God's love and instead turning to false Gods. Then after warning of judgement, God reaffirmed his love and offered reconciliation.
Hosea was commanded by God to marry a woman who was unfaithful and would cause him many heartaches. --"Go take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord." (1:2) The footnotes in my Bible say that it is difficult to imagine Hosea's feelings when God told him to marry a woman that would be unfaithful to him. He may not have wanted to, but he obeyed. I know I sure as heck wouldn't want to be with someone that I KNEW would end up being unfaithful to me, but sometimes God requires extraordinary obedience from us. God may ask us to do something difficult and extraordinary. Would we obey him, trusting that He who knows everything has a special purpose for his request?
My favorite verse:
"Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them." (2:6-7)
--God is saying He is going to block Israel's path by making the rewards of idol worship so disappointing that the people would be persuaded to turn back to God. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God was still faithful and merciful. He would continue to hold His arms out to his people, even thought He might have to place obstacles in their way to turn them back to Him. I have this written in my Bible next to this verse-"God says He will thwart all our efforts to find life apart from Him. He does this in order to wear us out, get us to turn back to Him in thirsty longing. He often takes us aside from every other source of comfort so that He alone can have our heart's desire." WOW! I'm sure I wrote that a couple of years ago and it still speaks to me now when I read it. God wants us, ALL of us and if there are things in our lives that take priority over Him, you can almost guarantee that He will eventually take whatever that may be, out of your life.
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her." (2:14). Then He begins to "woo" us. God uses even our negative experiences to create opportunities to turn back to him. As we face problems/trials, we need to remember that God speaks to us in the desert and not just in times of prosperity.
Another thing I had written in my Bible says, "God allows things to happen to get our attention. God knows how hot things are getting and His hand is on the thermostat."
Chapter 6, verse 1 says, "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds." This verse is telling us to return to Him as we are. God may break us down, but He is the BEST at putting us back together.
A promise: "Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." (6:3). This verse is telling us and God is ALWAYS there...He is the only thing constant in our lives and how comforting to know that!! When you are feeling down and don't really know which way your life is headed or if you are having to make a decision that is heartwrenching, just remember that God is always there and His way is the BEST way.
"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right.." (14:9).
