Jesus Married A Whore

I titled this posting "Jesus Married A Whore" because the story of Hosea the prophet and his marriage to Gomer is an illustration of God's love for sinners, or of God's love for his people Israel. The Book of Hosea begins this way:

“The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.” (Hosea 1: 1-2)

The story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible is a symbolic marriage used to depict God's love for Israel and the consequences of their unfaithfulness. God instructed Hosea to marry Gomer, who was unfaithful to him, just as Israel was unfaithful to God by worshiping other gods, which was a case of spiritual adultery. Hosea eventually bought Gomer back from slavery, representing God's redemptive love for Israel. The story of Hosea's love for the whore Gomer is a picture of God's love for depraved sinners. 

"And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” (Hosea 3: 1)

We are Gomer. We are spiritual adulterers. We want to have it our way, and we are willing to reject God’s covenantal faithfulness for fleeting one-night stands with idols. While it’s hard to admit that we are no different than Gomer, it’s a truth that we can embrace with humility and comfort. The story of Hosea and Gomer reminds us that God loves us not because of our faithfulness, but because of his. 

Got Questions Web Page says (See here):

"God wanted to provide an illustration of His relationship with the people of Israel, who had been unfaithful to Him by practicing idolatry...The story of Hosea and Gomer is an unforgettable picture of God’s strong, unending love for His covenant people." 

"In Hosea 3:1, after Gomer had left Hosea and was living in immorality, the Lord commanded Hosea to find her and buy her back. God was continuing His illustration, except now He wanted to show the greatness of His grace: “Even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods.” Hosea’s faithful love of Gomer was an illustration of God’s faithfulness to wayward Israel. Just as Gomer had been unfaithful to her husband and had to be redeemed, Israel needed God’s initiative to restore their relationship."

Gomer was born into adultery, into a family of prostitutes. So too we are all born in sin (Eph. 2: 3). She also practiced the sin of adultery as her family. We too practice sin as did our father Adam. There is nothing about us that is attractive or worthy of God's love. So Paul wrote:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2: 4-7 nkjv)

What great love is this! In the story of Hosea and Gomer we see exemplified this truth: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1st John 4:10) And, “But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) 

Hosea's love and care for Gomer was unmerited. Gomer was not chosen because she was morally superior to all other women, for she was not. So too is it with us. We don't deserve to be loved by God. So wrote the apostle John:

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (I John 3: 1)

What love indeed!