The Prophet, Hosea and His Promiscuous Wife, Gomer

The Old Testament book of Hosea is about Yahweh's/God's love and faithfulness to a rebellious and idolatrous nation. God, being a Jealous God, did not embrace the idea of his people worshipping other gods. They were held responsible for their choices. God eventually redeemed them.

I thought the prophet Hosea's first love was definitely God. He was obedient to God's will regardless of his personal concerns, feelings, or reputation. He was willing to receive his adulterous wife back into their home several times and also willing to raise the children (from her lifestyle of whoredom) at times, alone while she enjoyed sinfully wicked and worldly pleasures. Hosea, the prophet was a servant of the Most High and a yielded vessel used by his Lord and Master, God Almighty.  My thoughts when reflecting on this illustrative book were about the hidden feeling of fear, pain, disappointment, humiliation, losses, rejection, judgement, price of unfaithfulness, pride, family opinions, professional backlash, community gossip, selfishness, brokenness, and self-identity. God's chosen people endured hardship and suffering faithfully. I am not very sure, my first response would have been, Hallelujah, I have been chosen to display the characteristic of God to his people in a unique manner. My thought might have been along the same vein as Jonah's; really Lord, is this how you want me to get a message to your rebellious, hardhearted, and stiff-necked people or am I, Heavenly Father, being tested regarding my compacity to be a loving and forgiving individual? Mentally and Emotionally for some this God appointed task would seem impossible, but I am assured Hosea had seen God as trustworthy. Hosea must have been seen as worthy for this special assignment and a fruit bearing prophet. Hosea does not seem like he was a novice when it came to dealing with difficult people. He must have known and had faith that God would empower, strengthen, protect, comfort, guide, and gift him with all he needed during this temporary mission.

A little background:  During the 8th Century BC, the nation had several not so righteous kings. Their religious centers near the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Dead Sea, and Arabian Desert went from being prosperous to a weakened compromising nation embracing idolatry. Isreal and Judah eventually lost land to and were defeated by the Assyrians. Hosea was the son of Beeri, His family members and in-laws witnessed his personal marital struggles and spiritual victories. His ministry spanned the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and the days of Jeroboam the king of Israel. God instructed Hosea to take Gomer (she was considered a sexually experienced woman of the world and some believe she became a prostitute either before or after they were married) as his wife. God was not focusing on rewarding Hosea with a beautiful woman who would satisfy his husbandly needs and give him children. God needed His chosen people to metaphorically view their unfaithfulness against the backdrop of His loving, provisional, forgiving faithfulness, and His will to restore back a right relationship with them, even after their spiritual adultery.

In the book of Hosea, Gomer was not painted as a model citizen or a typical Proverbs 31 spouse. She was the daughter of Diblaim, was her father an Israelite? She refused to acknowledge the good things Hosea had did for her. Why? She abandoned her spouse. Why? She had many lovers. My other questions about Gomer were:

Was she raised in an home that worshipped idols? Was she sold into prostitution at an early age by her family? Did she choose prostitution or did life force her into it? What attributes did Gomer have that made God choose her to be Hosea's wife? How long were Hosea and Gomer married before she abandoned him? Was the pressure of being a prophet's wife too restrictive for her? What made her resistant to return to her home with Hosea and the children? Did she know who fathered her children that were not Hosea's biologically children?

Proverbs 12:4  A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

While legally married to Hosea, Gomer had 3 children:

Their names were reflective of Israelite's relationship with God.

• Jezreel: meaning God sows was her 1st born; He was considered the biological son of Hosea.

• Lo-Ruhama: meaning not loved was her 2nd child, a daughter:

  (God's warning to His People that He would show no more mercy)

• Lo Ammi: a son whose name meant not my people; He was her 3rd child.

Hosea 14:1-9

1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

2 Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.

3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands.

In you the orphan finds mercy.”

4 I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;

6 his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine;

their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress;

from me comes your fruit.

9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.