“When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.” Hosea 1:2
On of my favorite movies is “Pretty Woman” staring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The movie opens with Edward escaping a high profile social engagement and goes for a spin in a friend’s car to get away from business. He accidently drives to Hollywood Boulevard and picks up a prostitute for the evening. Little does he know, he will soon fall in love with the prostitute. Vivian seasons up Edwards boring business life. She teaches how to relax and have fun. He teaches her how to present herself as a classy elite society woman. He treats her with respect despite her scandalous occupation.
In one iconic scene, Edward gives Vivian money to buy new clothes for upcoming social events. She heads to Rodeo Drive, and the shop ladies are unkind to her. They judged poor Vivian on her appearance. Much like we judge others on their appearance, speech, or choices. I can barely stand that scene because it makes me so infuriated. Vivian has a sweet heart, yet the upper class ladies can’t see her sweet heart and ask her to leave their shop because she doesn’t belong.
I enjoyed the story line because wild spirited Vivian is an independent woman that plays by her own rules; whereas Edward has always played by the rules and has as dry soul. Vivian’s dream was for a prince to come on a white horse and rescue her from her tower. Edward is her prince, but his stubborn pride tries to keep him from Vivian. Edward tried to forget about Vivian and let her go, but he had to run after her and tell her how he loved her and rescues her. Vivian and Edward were not suppose to fall in love, but they did.
This non-traditional love story reminds me of the love story between Hosea and Gomer. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. Hosea pursued Gomer over and over even after she ran away to become a prostitute again. Hosea treated Gomer with respect. Hosea married Gomer and helped her feel a genuine love.
Hosea 3:1 “Then the Lord said to me [Hosea], “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.”
Hosea and Gomer’s love represents the love between husband and wife, God and Israel. God pursues us, even after we run away multiple times.
Hosea 2:14-16
“But then I will win her back once again.
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her there.
I will return her vineyards to her
and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.
She will give herself to me there,
as she did long ago when she was young,
when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.
When that day comes,” says the Lord,
“you will call me ‘my husband’
instead of ‘my master.’
How many times have we run away from God? How many times have we turned to things that will only satisfy our flesh? How many times have we idolized gods in our life? Our gods could be our jobs, relationships, food, the “American Dream,” etc.
Multiple times.
The good news is that despite our sinful ways, God still pursues us and loves us. We are Gomer. God doesn’t have to keep pursuing us but He does. That is true love. We are use to broken humans trying to love each other in a broken world. A love that we can fully grasp because humans can’t provide the love like Jesus can. Hosea bought back Gomer because he loved her, like Jesus paid for us.
