March 19, 2009 7:22 AM
Sam wrote:
How difficult is this task God has asked (commanded???) of Hosea. Here we have, as you know, a wife who left him to live a life with at least one other man. Not only must Hosea take her back and love her, he must PAY to get her back from her latest lover!
Just put yourself in a similar situation. What would you do? Let's say YOUR wife left you for another. Would you go get her, pay for her, and love her (again)? Could/would you forgive her for her insincerity. It is one thing, I think, to forgive a spouse for a 'fling' who really still loves YOU, but quite another to go get back one who left you (permanently) to live with someone else.
This story, used as an example of the nation of Israel being a 'prostitute', demonstrates how BIG God's love is for us. Hosea was to demonstrate a similar love for his wife.
Can you relate to this love? Can you see how much God truly loves those who worship Him? Can you see how much God truly loves those who DON'T? What an amazing love that is.
If we, and others worldwide, can have just a minute (that is minute, not minute) amount of that love for the people around us, just imagine how much this world could be improved. Practice a bit of that love today. Forgive someone you hold a grudge/bad feeling against....let them know somehow today, that you truly love them like God loves His people. Anyone in mind?
PS---give Tony, Dustin and Rich a call today to see how they are doing....been absent a bit on this blog...they've missed this whole book so far, and it is a wonderful book to study. Reply to this
Great message that gets lost many times as people focus on God's wrath. Again, I am seeing many things in the Bible that in my mind are just put there to get an EMOTIONAL response. I am an analyst at heart - it is what I do - just give me the facts. But there is nothing logical about Hosea so far - it is so over the top as to be unthinkable. It is against the OT LAW, which said that she should have been stoned to death. So I can only think that this has been put there for one reason - for us to respond with heart and emotion, since we are the unfaithful wife, and God is the forgiving husband, even buying us back (with something a lot more precious than 6 oz. of silver and 10 bushels of barley). This is not about logic or obtaining the facts about God, it is about what God is willing to do for a sinners like us. Reply to this
March 19, 2009 12:32 PM
rik wrote:
I have never had to do or look past anything like this with my wife (referring ought Gomer). I definitely am feeling more grateful for my wife. everyone has baggage and when you think your spouses baggage is bad you should go over this book again. It take a big individual to forgive, but if I look at it from the other point of view, I am Gomer and Jesus have forgiven me of the most vilest of sins. I was worth less then the amount she was purchased for. thank you Jesus! Reply to this
How difficult is this task God has asked (commanded???) of Hosea. Here we have, as you know, a wife who left him to live a life with at least one other man. Not only must Hosea take her back and love her, he must PAY to get her back from her latest lover!
Just put yourself in a similar situation. What would you do? Let's say YOUR wife left you for another. Would you go get her, pay for her, and love her (again)? Could/would you forgive her for her insincerity. It is one thing, I think, to forgive a spouse for a 'fling' who really still loves YOU, but quite another to go get back one who left you (permanently) to live with someone else.
This story, used as an example of the nation of Israel being a 'prostitute', demonstrates how BIG God's love is for us. Hosea was to demonstrate a similar love for his wife.
Can you relate to this love? Can you see how much God truly loves those who worship Him? Can you see how much God truly loves those who DON'T? What an amazing love that is.
If we, and others worldwide, can have just a minute (that is minute, not minute) amount of that love for the people around us, just imagine how much this world could be improved. Practice a bit of that love today. Forgive someone you hold a grudge/bad feeling against....let them know somehow today, that you truly love them like God loves His people. Anyone in mind?
PS---give Tony, Dustin and Rich a call today to see how they are doing....been absent a bit on this blog...they've missed this whole book so far, and it is a wonderful book to study.
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This chapter was just too long!
Great message that gets lost many times as people focus on God's wrath. Again, I am seeing many things in the Bible that in my mind are just put there to get an EMOTIONAL response. I am an analyst at heart - it is what I do - just give me the facts. But there is nothing logical about Hosea so far - it is so over the top as to be unthinkable. It is against the OT LAW, which said that she should have been stoned to death. So I can only think that this has been put there for one reason - for us to respond with heart and emotion, since we are the unfaithful wife, and God is the forgiving husband, even buying us back (with something a lot more precious than 6 oz. of silver and 10 bushels of barley). This is not about logic or obtaining the facts about God, it is about what God is willing to do for a sinners like us.
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Dustin is having marital issues. please pray for him and his wife.
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Will do. Did his wife get baptized? They seemed to have a great time Saturday night.
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not yet, she is still studying as far as I know.
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I have never had to do or look past anything like this with my wife (referring ought Gomer). I definitely am feeling more grateful for my wife. everyone has baggage and when you think your spouses baggage is bad you should go over this book again. It take a big individual to forgive, but if I look at it from the other point of view, I am Gomer and Jesus have forgiven me of the most vilest of sins. I was worth less then the amount she was purchased for. thank you Jesus!
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