So, after an intro, we dive into verses 2 & 3.

“When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him,

‘Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.’

So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.” (NIV)

And from NLT:

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.’

So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son.”

The Message version of this makes me cringe, so we’re gonna stick with these two.

We talked in group about how God didn’t tell Hosea which woman to marry.  It leans into some speculation, but do you think he chose her?  Do you think he loved her?

I do.  I don’t think the allegory makes sense any other way.  God loves us.  Don’t hear that the way you usually do.

He loves us.

Extravagantly and intimately.  He wants to meet our greatest needs.  He wants to be the fulfillment of our greatest desires.  And, for crying in the night, He wants to bless us.  But two things He’s been teaching me about that one:

1.  If my character is not adequately developed, those blessings can turn into idols rapidly.  Who I am is more important than what I do or what I have.

and

2.  These blessings, this beautiful, fulfilling relationship was never meant just for us.  Never.  All through the Holy Scriptures He is using people of the promise to draw the nations.  The others.  Those not already in holy covenant with Him.

Blessed to be a blessing.

That is always, always true.