Hosea; the prophet with the broken heart

I recently read something someone posted online once. It said something along the lines of “God will never lead you to a broken heart.” Tell that to prophet Hosea. This didn’t sit well with me. Yes, God will ultimately lead to redemption (because that’s who He is) but that does NOT mean there won’t be suffering or sadness in the process. I can look back and trace the hand of God in my life, and if He is truly sovereign (which He is), I’ve been through some heartbreak. I’ve even experienced heartache in my own marriage. If you are marrying, and you’ve never experienced any type of heartache I would honestly question whether you are telling the truth. Whether God CAUSED it or ALLOWED it, heartbreak has always led me CLOSER to Him.

If you aren’t familiar with book of Hosea, God instructs Hosea to marry Gomer the prostitute. Yes, God told his PROPHET to marry a PROSTITUTE. Instead of being faithful to her forgiving and loving husband, Gomer goes back to her previous lovers. His marriage to her reflects God’s covenant with a rebellious Israel (an adulterous people). Throughout the book, and some chastening, He ends up showing his unending love for an adulterous people.

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt God led you, but then you are VERY confused as to why certain events are taking place. Or maybe you were expecting a blessing and you got suffering and heartache instead? “God where are you?” ” This wasn’t supposed to be this way.” WHY would God lead us into situations that entail heartache? Perhaps He knows something we don’t- after all, He’s God. God allows many things to take place that I don’t understand. I’ve witnessed people standing in faith, praying for the life of a child while God ultimately decides to bring that child home. It can be very easy to blame everything we perceive as “bad” on the devil. God is GOOD and He has a faithful character and nature for sure. But, He led Hosea to heartbreak (for a short while) by marrying Gomer. I wonder how many times He questioned why God would lead him to do such a thing. In Hosea 3:1, the scripture reads, ”The Lord said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. LOVE HER AS THE LORD LOVES THE ISRAELITES, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.’” So Hosea went and bought back his adulterous wife.

WHAT!? How heartbreaking is that? !? This certainly doesn’t sound like anything the world teaches. How did Hosea possibly draw the strength to do this, other than from God and being completely obedient to what the Lord told him. We can only love people like the Lord, drawing strength from HIm

In Hosea’s obedience we learn a little more about God’s heart toward us (and our marriages)- what biblical love truly is. His marriage brought God so much glory.

Hosea’s marriage to Gomer was prophetic. In the end, it displays God’s covenant, His mercy, and His forgiving and unending love which he always uses for ultimate redemption. His anger and turning away only lasted a moment. Like Hosea, He comes back after us, attempting to buy us back despite our unfaithfulness. Isn’t that the ultimate goal and challenge- to look and love like Christ, especially in our marriages since they reflect His covenant with us?

It’s hard to choose acts of love, mercy, and grace when we feel betrayed and offended. I would be lying if I never asked God to smite my husband (true story- forgive me, I’m still human!). The love of God is unconditional, eternal, and transforming. God ALSO loves us enough to chasten us for our sins. Notice that GOD chastens us for our sins and HIS love is unconditional and transforming Hosea obeyed God when God said to marry Gomer, to let her go, and then to go back after her. GOD directs the steps. God does the chastening and the transforming. We can let HIM be God and do that. I fail in this area. I want to give the punishment myself or want to control and change things in my own strength. This always backfires- ALWAYS. The more I give room for God to work, the more He moves.

Things may not always make sense. I’m sure none of this made sense to Hosea. But God had a plan, despite the chaos and heartache for His ultimate purpose. There are a lot of things that happen that are out of our control. No matter what, God wants our trust. He wants our hearts. He wants to teach us about Him through humility, suffering, sanctification, and showing mercy. God delights in mercy, not sacrifice.

It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit ties things together. Shortly after inspiration on this principle, God then led me to the book of Isaiah (specifically chapters 48-50). Keep in mind, I am NOT a bible scholar. I’m not trying to take scriptures from two books out of context, but I just find these scriptures so fitting. Also, my study Bible says that Isaiah was actually prophesying God’s word in the same time period as Hosea. Tradition also has it that Isaiah was sawn into pieces during the reign of Manasseh (yikes!). This further goes to show that great suffering can be a part of God’s ultimate plan. In the gospels, Jesus assured us we would have troubles and suffering in this world. Do we want to go through it with God or without Him?

In chapters 49-50 there are a few verses and principles that really jump out at me- to help in times that we need encouragement. “For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.” Isaiah 48:9-11

In Verse 17 of the same chapter God says He is the one who teaches us what is best for us and who directs us in the way we should go. Verse 13 says “For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.” He has compassion for us and comforts us as he refines us through affliction. That’s profound. When God works on us- the refining can obviously be very painful. Painful does not equal bad, and it does not mean God has left us. God does this for HIS OWN SAKE; for His own glory!

“Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49: 14-16

A few days ago I was feeling very heavy, down, and discouraged. It felt like demonic oppression and spiritual warfare. He reminded me of the pattern I’ve often faced; warfare and then breakthrough in an area. The cycle repeats and the enemy does not have new tricks. I was speaking to a sister in Christ, and she reminded me of this same truth God laid upon my heart just days before. Don’t give into the discouragement and looking at circumstances to measure what God is going to do. There is ultimately redemption and blessing after our trials and sufferings if we continue in the ways of God, obedience to Him and remain faithful! Just like in Hosea, there was a battle prior to the redemption.

The word later says in chapter 49: 23 & 25 that those in hope in the Lord will not be disappointed and that God will contend with those who contend with you. GOD alone is our savior, redeemer, our rescuer, our mountain mover, and miracle maker. Shortly after I gave birth to our daughter, I had a very vidid dream that basically conveyed this same message. It’s God alone who we call on; He is the one with all of the answers and the solutions- our true helper and refuge. What is due to us is in God’s hands and our reward is with our God (Isaiah 49:4). There it is again. He is faithful to fight our battles, guide, provide, lead, give us peace and joy- all the answers are in Him.

Then in chapter 50:5 Isaiah says “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near.” Talk about turning the other cheek! Now, this does not imply pacifism or that we place ourselves in danger. It means we don’t retaliate for personal offenses. We let the Lord fight our battles.

Ok, now that I’ve said that, we’re going to go back to the story of Hosea and Gomer. My point is, when we set aside our own pride, our own thinking and ways for God’s perspective, He will bring the glory. I wonder how often Hosea (being married to the prostitute) wondered why God would call him to this marriage and situation. God asked him to marry an unfaithful woman who kept running off to be with other men! However, in Hosea’s obedience and unwavering faithfulness to God, God had a plan for the greater good. So, Hosea’s suffering was used greatly for the glory of God. Just because something doesn’t make sense, isn’t going the way we planned, or because there is a form of suffering doesn’t mean it’s not for our ultimate good and God’s purpose.

It’s okay to feel whatever you are going through. But don’t give up and don’t lose heart. If you are seeking God and surrendering to Him, He is with you. He has not abandoned you. He is just refining you for His great purpose, His glory, and a bigger plan. It may not “feel good” in the moment, but in time you will see the beautiful tapestry of purpose that God was weaving together all along.