What does it mean to sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7)? At first glance, this seems like an odd story, and we may even question why this is in the Bible! This type of relationship did not occur under normal conditions. Hosea himself • Hosea was a prophet who served Israel in the eighth century, B.C. The marriage of Hosea and Gomer was certainly not without its bumps and bruises. He’s a real guy with a real wife who lived a long time ago, but his life was supposed to be an example of what Jesus and his people are like. The Lord used Hosea and Gomer’s relationship as an object lesson to show how Israel had sinned against Him by following other gods and how God remains faithful even when His people don’t. It was the strangest word A holy prophet ever got: And every pointed precept shot Like arrows at Hosea's life: When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the L ord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the L ord.” So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Who was Lo-ammi in the Bible? Gomer leaves Hosea for other men (plural) and even bears the illegitimate children of her lovers (3:1, 1:6)! The Lord said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord." His book is the first of the twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. | 2,504 … So in Hosea’s symbolic telling, God blocked her path with thorn bushes, walling her in so that she could not find her way to them: His book of prophecy, that will be the focus of our study this month, chronicles the tragic side of his marriage to a woman named Gomer. God gave Hosea an unusual command: “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an … Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” Gomer, according to Hosea 1:3, was the daughter of Diblaim. Diblaim’s name signifies “double layers of raisin cakes.” Raisin cakes were associated with pagan idols and sensuality. Who was Hosea in the Bible? In Chapter 3, after bearing three children, Gomer leaves Hosea to pursue her lovers and evidently she falls into some type of debt or slavery (ch. !! However, Gomer is unfaithful to Hosea. What causes a spouse to do what Gomer did—go after other lovers? Who was Gomer in the Bible? What are the Major Prophets and Minor Prophets? In Hosea 1:2 we read, “The LORD said to Hosea, ‘Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom.’” Hosea obeyed, marrying a woman named Gomer, who was unfaithful to him. Bible Questions Answered. The Book of Hosea Discussion/Reflection Questions Chapter 1 The word of the Lord came to Hosea, but the word was not for Israel. And I have done to Jesus what Gomer did to her husband, Hosea, and it cost Jesus everything to buy me back from my sin. The Bible has answers. I am telling my story at God Spins a Yarn, I almost called my blog ” I am Hosea, or “The female Hosea” but thought it … God will never stop pursuing you because He created you for a specific purpose. Those married couples who have gone through a difficult time or divorce, because of adultery, have a close-up look at what it means to be considered "second-best." We are currently reading from the Book of the Prophet Hosea at daily Mass. No one wanted her, she almost went for half price. What does the Bible mean when it refers to a “Daughter of Zion” (Micah 4:13)? All rights reserved. Hosea was a faithful husband; Gomer was an unfaithful wife. While chapters 1-3 describe Gomer’s unfaithfulness to Hosea, chapters 4-14 describes Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. was this call that God placed on Hosea’s life. The price is high when he must sing A song of ruin over everything In lyrics written with his life And lose his children and his wife." An illustration of Hosea and Gomer (1732). This was also the time that Jeroboam son of Joash was king over Israel. (6:4) (1) God commands Hosea to love Gomer again. • Hosea’s name means “ salvation .” 2. First, it was for Hosea. HOSEA AND GOMER REVISITED YOSEF GREEN A substantial body of literature exists dealing with the question of the prophet Hosea's marriage to Gomer bat-Diblaim and their three children. The restoration of Gomer. Hosea’s wife, Gomer deserted him and lived the life of a prostitute. Got Questions? Our friend, Gomer • Gomer means “ completion , the filling up of idolatry.” • Gomer’s marriage to Hosea represents Israel’s covenant relationship with God. However, Hosea went and bought her back full price, maybe more, he said you are now twice mine. So good! Gomer was being sold as a slave. Holman Old Testament Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah by Trent Butler. How are people destroyed from a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)? Hosea is set up as a loving and forgiving figure, while Gomer represents Israel’s rebellion against the will of the Protagonist. Why does God desire mercy and acknowledgement of Him instead of sacrifice (Hosea 6:6)? Lessons to Learn 1- Faithfulness can be fleeting and emotional Your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away. We are often faithless, prone to wander. Hosea was a prophet of God in the Bible. Who was Lo-ruhamah in the Bible? Why should I have to buy back what is already mine?" No One Cares For A Tabloid God Series. God asked Hosea to marry Gomer, as a picture of the unfaithfulness of Israel. (Hosea 1:2). God spoke to Hosea and put that relationship on his heart. All rights reserved. In the last days, will everyone need to go to Jerusalem to worship God (Micah 4:2). It is also our story. Hosea was God’s messenger during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah and the last six kings in Israel. Gomer falsely believed that it was her lovers––the gods of idolatrous worship––who gave her food, water, wool, linen, olive oil, and drink. ! The source states, “This set up a model of Israel’s broken relationship with God. In chapter 1, God tells the prophet Hosea to marry an adulterous wife, and Hosea marries a woman named Gomer. Why did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute (Hosea 1:2)? You see, Hosea is Jesus, and you’re Gomer; I’m Gomer. Hosea was a follower of God; Gomer was not a follower. Gomer in the Bible was the unfaithful wife of Hosea the prophet. !-#4 Jesus paid the price on the cross to purchase all the sin that you have, and will ever have. With over 7,600 answers to frequently asked Bible questions published online, approximately 85% of the questions we are asked already have answers available to you instantly. And, God uses the story of Hosea and Gomer’s marriage to show that God’s people have done the same to Him: It came to him during the royal reigns of Judah’s kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We first meet Gomer in the Old Testament Bible book of Hosea. What does it mean to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8)? Today, the Jezreel Valley is a green, fertile plain, covered with fields of wheat, cotton, sunflowers, and corn, as well as grazing tracts for multitudes of sheep and cattle. Is “I will deliver” or “Will I deliver” the correct translation of Hosea 13:14. Hosea and Gomer serve as a vivid picture of how this relationship played out. Hosea’s wife, Gomer, a harlot, who God told him to marry, wanted to go back her to own ways she tried and realized her wrongs. Author: Hosea 1:1 identifies the author of the book as the Prophet Hosea. • Hosea asked, “How many times must I keep forgiving her?” Jesus answered that question. • Cecil Osborne claims that 50% of today's marriages either the husband or wife commits adultery at least once. And so it was, Hosea heard The Lord. She came back and had to be put up for auction. Jezreel is also the name of a son of the prophet Hosea, so named because God had declared that He would avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu (Hosea 1:4–5). Why did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute (Hosea 1:2)? Hosea 3 – The Restoration of an Adulterous Wife A. To begin with, it is important to realize this command could be understood two different ways.