Hosea is one of those books in which God comes across as a bit unreasonable. At the very beginning of the book, God commands his prophet, Hosea, to marry a "promiscuous woman." Why, pray tell? So that Hosea's marriage can be a living metaphor for God's relationship with his people. Hosea complies, marrying Gomer, a woman who proves to be perennially unfaithful. Hosea provides for Gomer; loves her; and takes her back every time. He even buys her back when she sells herself into slavery. "How does it feel," says God, "to be married to someone; to pour yourself out for them; to give them everything they need, only to have them reject you? Only to have them say, 'I don't need you.'" This, says God, is what my people do to me again and again.
Not so sure? To what extent do you think of yourself as independent? Self-sufficient? How often do you ask God to give you the basic necessities of life - or thank him for them? God says to us, "Whether you admit it or not, you've gotten everything from me. I've given you most of what you have without you even having asked for it first!" God says, "I've been nothing but faithful to you. And yet again and again you attribute my blessings to someone else!"
God's relationship with us is one of mercy. God in his mercy seeks us out. Buys us back. Gives us everything we need for body and soul. What does God ask in return? Gratitude. Generosity. The admission that we are what we are: dependents. Thank God that he's allowed us to depend on him, body and soul, in life and in death.
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