God’s
love is strong, unconditional – a love that we cannot understand or
explain in human terms. It is absolutely and utterly beyond measure.
The life of the Old Testament prophet, Hosea, powerfully illustrates
this kind of love. Hosea was married to Gomer but Gomer was unfaithful
to Hosea, betraying the covenant of marriage. Hosea had every right to
walk away from Gomer and divorce her but supernatural love caused him to
make supernatural choices that demanded supernatural action and
sacrifice.
Hosea 3:2 says, “So I bought her for six ounces of silver and ten bushels of barley” (Twice the price of an average slave).
Think
about it. Hosea was the one who had been wronged and humiliated. Yes,
he was the one faithfully following the moral Commandments of God. He
was the righteous one but he was also the one called to sacrifice.
We oftentimes misunderstand the full meaning of sacrifice, thinking
that it is only a decision to “give up” our self-centered rights, or
give up our surplus of resources or give up a few of our nonessential
freedoms. But true sacrifice is much more than these things.
Sacrifice causes us to lay down all sense of human justice or fairness
in order for God to work in and through us on behave of those who are
sometimes unlovable and deserving of condemnation.
Gomer
broke the covenant of marriage. Biblically, Hosea had every
justification to divorce her. He could have tossed her out and turned
her children against her, stripping her life of any discernible value.
Hosea could have destroyed Gomer, and no one would have blamed him.
Instead, God instructed Hosea to rise to a higher place and lay down his
anger, hurt and his right to retaliate or seek revenge. God instructed Hosea to take the initiative and go to her and love her again.
Hosea
had to swallow his pride and go to her in love and forgiveness. Now
let me just tell you that if I had been the one going to find Gomer, I
would have been more likely to snatch her up by the hair and drag her
home in front of as many people as possible to prove she could not get
away with what she was doing. Better yet, I would have said, “Good
riddance. You can keep her! I don’t want her any more.” I am certain I
could find many who would agree with my plan of punishment and
revenge. It seems to me that Hosea stood to gain very little but lose a
great deal by choosing to respond as he did. However, Hosea was called
on by God to sacrifice everything to redeem a woman who did not deserve
sacrifice or redemption. Jesus did the same thing for us when He died
on the cross. He now calls us to respond with that same God-like heart
and attitude of redemption.
God
always seeks restoration and reconciliation and commands us to look for
it as well. We are to look past what seems logical and seek the
sublime.
1Then
the Lord told me, “Love your wife again, even though she is loved by
others and has committed adultery. Love her as I, the Lord, love the
Israelites, even though they have turned to other gods and love to eat
raisin cakes.” 2So I bought her for 23 ounces of silver and 10 bushels of barley. ~ Hosea 3:1-2 (GW)
Today’s Prayer
Father, I pray to You in the only name that is above every name—YeHoWsHua HaMashiach* - The Anointed One From God – Jesus the Christ. Father,
I am so tired of holding on to the pain in my life. I want to forgive
those who have hurt me and learn how to let go of the pain and move on.
Today, I lay down my pride and my rights. I will not seek revenge or
retaliation. Instead, I choose to take the initiative and love my
enemies and bless those who have harmed me. Please give me the strength
and power to reflect Your love for me in my love toward others. Anoint
me with thy Holy Spirit O God so that I may honor You as I step out in
obedience to Your will and Your way. This is my prayer in the name of
the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen
