June 26 - Hosea 2:14-8:14

Good morning everyone,

This morning we continue with Hosea and the parallels being drawn between his relationship with Gomer and God’s relationship with the nation of Israel. We begin with verse 14 where it says, “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.” Great things happen in the wilderness. When God had Moses rescue the people from Pharaoh’s bondage He took them into the wilderness. It was in the wilderness where Jesus was led by the Spirit and taught Satan a thing or two about who He is.(Matthew 4) It was also in the wilderness where Jesus fed four thousand with just seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. (Matthew 15:33) If you are experiencing a wilderness in your life right now, be encouraged; look for what God is trying to teach you and how He will provide for you.

In chapter three, Gomer leaves her marriage again and by all rights and laws of the time, Hosea could have taken her out to be stoned, but he loved her and so it was that he went into town and found her in the square, walking the streets as a prostitute, and he purchased her for a pitifully small amount, her worn diminished by time and lifestyle. This is a beautiful picture of the love God has for us. At any time in our life, in anyone’s life, no matter what they have done, God is right there trying to get your attention because His Son Jesus has already paid the price to purchase you, you need only repent and ask Him into your heart. 

I just want to say one small thing about sex outside of marriage, you will never ever be fulfilled within you soul with sex outside of marriage. It’s for sure God created us to be sexual and it is a beautiful thing between a husband and a wife, Genesis 2:24 says, ”Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." One flesh, every sexual encounter, whether within marriage or not, carries with it that mysterious deep bonding process of becoming "one flesh" with the other person. So when you are jumping from sexual partner to sexual partner there is a violent ripping apart of this "one flesh" bond; a tearing apart which goes to the core of one's being ultimately leaving you feeling empty and even lonelier than before. Your soul suffers, you may not feel it today, but it will take its toll. Though abstinence can be very difficult to attain after a life of promiscuity, limiting sex to marriage is not an option for the followers of Christ. There is strength in Jesus. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Amen?

Have  good day and to God be the glory.

God bless your day …