Beauty from Forgiveness
As she lay awake, the moonlight over the city peeked into her bedroom. Gomer couldn't sleep at all. She had tossed and turned for hours before she just propped her pillows up, laid back and stared out the window. Hosea lay in peaceful sleep beside her. He was not disturbed by her restlessness. The events of the last few days had troubled her so greatly that she didn't know how to process them all. Something had happened and Gomer was lost in confusion.
Here she was lying in a beautiful bed with a holy man of God lying beside her. What had she done to deserve this? All of Judah knew who she was. Many words described Gomer... prostitute, tramp, adulterer, fit for trash... she'd heard them all. All of it true. Gomer's past, even recent past was an ugly one. She couldn't shake the memories of the many men that used to lie beside her in bed. She was a tramp. Then what was she doing here? Married to a prophet? No woman of her stature deserved this. And Hosea? Who was he to accept such a bride? Disillusioned, crazy, rebellious...no, Hosea was a strong willed, honorable loving man of God. He spoke his mind even when it got him in trouble. He was a prophet…a spokesman for the Almighty God of Judah. Hosea was just being obedient. This Almighty God had handpicked Gomer for a bride. So it wasn't Hosea...It was God.
It was God she couldn't understand. It was God's mercy she had received, not Hosea's. Hosea was just a willing vessel in the hands of God. If anyone should get the credit for her redemption it was God. Somewhere, somehow, God had chosen her. God has seen her life and there was no doubt that he was angry with her for her sin and disobedience. But He chose to look past all of that and love her anyway.
She was a picture. She knew that. It was Judah that had rebelled against God. It was Judah that had prostituted herself with foreign gods and idolatry. Just like Gomer, the whole nation had abandoned their God. Now God was coming back. Through with anger, he was embracing a rebellious child and pouring out His love for an undeserving nation.
Gomer looked over at Hosea who was just waking up. There was a smile on his face as he reached over and kissed her. He had a way of making her feel beautiful. It was a beauty that could only come from unconditional love and unwarranted forgiveness.
Here she was lying in a beautiful bed with a holy man of God lying beside her. What had she done to deserve this? All of Judah knew who she was. Many words described Gomer... prostitute, tramp, adulterer, fit for trash... she'd heard them all. All of it true. Gomer's past, even recent past was an ugly one. She couldn't shake the memories of the many men that used to lie beside her in bed. She was a tramp. Then what was she doing here? Married to a prophet? No woman of her stature deserved this. And Hosea? Who was he to accept such a bride? Disillusioned, crazy, rebellious...no, Hosea was a strong willed, honorable loving man of God. He spoke his mind even when it got him in trouble. He was a prophet…a spokesman for the Almighty God of Judah. Hosea was just being obedient. This Almighty God had handpicked Gomer for a bride. So it wasn't Hosea...It was God.
It was God she couldn't understand. It was God's mercy she had received, not Hosea's. Hosea was just a willing vessel in the hands of God. If anyone should get the credit for her redemption it was God. Somewhere, somehow, God had chosen her. God has seen her life and there was no doubt that he was angry with her for her sin and disobedience. But He chose to look past all of that and love her anyway.
She was a picture. She knew that. It was Judah that had rebelled against God. It was Judah that had prostituted herself with foreign gods and idolatry. Just like Gomer, the whole nation had abandoned their God. Now God was coming back. Through with anger, he was embracing a rebellious child and pouring out His love for an undeserving nation.
Gomer looked over at Hosea who was just waking up. There was a smile on his face as he reached over and kissed her. He had a way of making her feel beautiful. It was a beauty that could only come from unconditional love and unwarranted forgiveness.
posted by Ruby Voigt @ 6:08 AM
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