The Prophetic Symbol of Redemption

Hosea 1:2-3, John 8:1-11, Romans 8:1-11

Hosea’s life is used as a prophetic symbol to emphasize Israel’s betrayal and God’s redemptive love by asking him to “take a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord” (verse 2). Isn’t that our great fear as humans, to be betrayed by the ones who are supposed to love you the most? For me, I have felt betrayal from my parents, and it’s that pain that can keep me from being vulnerable with my husband. Yet, it is this very betrayal that Hosea steps into out of obedience. We can’t ever know if Hosea doubted and wrestled with God. What we do know is that Hosea took Gomer, who would leave and betray Hosea. We see this prophet walk into a situation that breaks every bone in my body with fear, with complete trust in God. God often does things that don’t make sense to us. However, we must trust he moves in the details to bring about a glory we could never imagine, like the redemption of Gomer through Hosea. Though this story of redemption is sweet, it is a shadow of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus left his seat in heaven to come for the whores who betrayed him to the cross. Just like Hosea’s obedience to pursue and redeem Gomer, Jesus’s obedience led to redemption and freedom for you and me.

Would we be people who live into redemption and live out obedience?