The Second Pursuit

 

Hosea 3:1 - Then the Lord sad to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.

 

After marrying the prophet and having three children, Gomer left her home and family and went back to prostitution.  God told the prophet to go get her and to bring her home. Imagine with me how the prophet must have felt - his shame, embarrassment, and confusion over Gomer’s desertion.   He had given her his love, a home and family; but, apparently, it was still not enough for her since she walked away for them. 

 

God was not finished with Gomer or His pursuit of her.  God instructed the prophet Hosea to go after her a second time and to bring her home.  In obedience to God, Hosea went looking for her, and found her not only back into prostitution, but she was also sold into slavery.  He purchased her for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and took her home.  

 

God allowed Hosea to experience this desertion by his wife to show him and the Israelites how their spiritual adultery grieved Him.  God was showing them how it felt each time they walked away from Him. 

 

In pursuing Gomer, God was demonstrating through the prophet the love He has for His people.  He shows them that, even though they turn away from Him, He will not turn away from them.  He continues to pursue and pursue even when we have abandoned Him. 

 

When we sin and completely miss it, God will faithfully, tenderly, and consistently come after you.  He will receive you back into the fold, even after you have broken His heart with your wrong choices.  When you return to Him, He is merciful and forgiving, never holding your sins and failures against you.  He extends undeserved grace to you and never condemns you.  When you return to Him, He simply says, “welcome home, my son, my daughter, welcome home.” 

 

Like Gomer, many of us at times have walked away from God but God keeps right on pursuing us.  We are thankful to have such a loving and compassionate father.

 

Please ponder and meditate on this?

 

How many times has God had to pursue you?