Redeemed
Text: Hosea 3:1-5 Date: 4-26-26
The combination of both pursuing and loving idols was spiritually deadly, vividly pictured in Gomer’s path of destruction and emptiness (2:7).
v. 1: The Lord again comes to Hosea and gives him a stunning command. Hosea is to go love this woman who has broken his heart. The phrase beloved [of her] friend indicates her husband who has great affection and loyalty toward her.
Truth: God wasn’t just calling Hosea to love his wife again. Jehovah was calling Hosea to rescue her. In that rescue, we find the faithful covenantal love that God has for His own children, the nation of Israel.
Truth: Jesus Christ – love; Redemption always includes love.
Gomer had divided loyalties, that of a prophet’s wife and that of a debased lover. She had stooped far into a life of debauchery, but God desired that she be redeemed back into a relationship with Hosea.
Hosea chose to love Gomer and pay the slave price to redeem her back to being his wife. That is the goodness of God in his life. Hosea demonstrated faith in doing whatever God asked of Him no matter the hurt and heartache that came his way.
In this way, Gomer went from slave to spouse, from a strange woman to a set free wife.
Truth: God loves to redeem the unrighteous. Jesus Christ redeems. Redemption always costs.
While God remained true to His people, He waited through a period of His own testing to see if they would remain faithful to Him.
Truth: Redemption always involves a difficult wait.
God withdrew their national sovereignty as they were under another government. They were without a king and a prince. Sacrifices and religious worship in the temple were put on hold.
What would come then of the nation? They would lose their power, their position, their sovereignty, and their religious practices. They would cease all of these things while they languished in a faraway land. Later, the nation would ultimately reject their rightful King when they said in John 19:15: “We have no king but Caesar”.
Truth: Redemption is a painful process.
Yet, despite the withouts, the nation will survive! A tomorrow for Israel most certainly exists!
The story of Hosea’s love for Gomer does not end in verse four, and neither does God’s love for His spouse (Israel). Neither Gomer nor the nation of Israel presents a beautiful love story. But this love story is not finished yet. The nation will return and love their faithful God. The nation will repent and follow the Lord and not idols.
Conclusion
The nation has yet to do this and remains in unbelief today. But, that doesn’t mean God is shunning them forever. Though the kingdom would be destroyed, the nation sold into judgment (Jezreel), though they failed to accept God’s mercy (Lo-ruhamah), and though they refused to be His people/ He their God (Lo-ami), this does not negate the promised word of the Lord. One day this nation will be married to the Lord, be shown His mercy, and be His people. They will then worship Him again in fear and receive the bountiful blessings at His hands.
Truth: Redemption ends with lavish grace.