As of today I began reading the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This novel takes the story of Hosea and portrays it during the California gold rush. The book is amazing and the story line cannot be beat. The problem is, I cannot put it down. Therefore, I cannot go to sleep. Jason is snoring in the background and I cannot help but stay awake and be overwhelmed by the love of our God.
Imagine with me for a minute - a holy, pious man, called to marry a prostitute. Not only does he forsake his dreams of marrying a Jewish girl, but he has a son with Gomer, only to discover she leaves him and returns to her former life. Once again God calls Hosea to go back. He has to buy her - how humiliating. There could be no greater love story. A holy man giving up everything for an unholy bride - only to give his hard earned money to buy her back from her immoral ways.
As I read this story I grow angry with Gomer. I mean really, how could she do that to Hosea? All he ever did was love her. He rescued her! If she had any decency, or brains, she would accept his charity. Instead she bears his children and runs back. As my irritation increases - I realize that I at times have been Gomer. We have all been Gomer.
This story paints such a vivid picture of the relationship between God and humanity. The plot thickens as we read into the book of Hosea and learn of the Israelites betrayal of God. God uses this story to say that the Israelites are doing the exact same thing. God saves them from their rags only to have to buy them back. When will we ever learn?
God purchased us from our filth at such a high price, yet it does not take long for us to trade in our riches for the rags of the world. Once again we revel in our immorality, begging God to buy us back. Luckily we serve a God that loves us so immensely that God stoops down, and picks us up. He pays the price and continues to form and shape us into something that looks a little more like Christ.
Derek Webb wrote a song entitled Wedding Dress in which he included the following words:
Cause I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
And I run down the aisle, I run down the aisle
I’m a prodigal with no way home
But I put you on just like a ring of gold
And I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle to you
So could you love this bastard child?
Though I don’t trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
And with the other in your side
‘Cause I am so easily satisfied
By the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood
How many times are we just like Gomer, if not worse? Trading in the blessings of God for the vanity of this world. God has called us to such greater things - to a divine relationship. A relationship filled with such love that the creator of the universe would step down to the earth - die on the cross to purchase us - only to have to buy us back when we stray. How could we ever ask for more?
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends"
John 15:13
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