Prepare Your Statement for God

C.S. Lewis, the brilliant writer and scholar, began as a pantheist and evolved into an atheist. He was convinced that there was no God or he was trying to convince himself that there was no God. Lewis was running from what he called 'the Hounds of Heaven' and denial was his tool. He finally came to a place where he could run no longer and he gave into the love of God and became a believer. As he tells his testimony, he does so like this: 'We all know of the prodigal son and his long walk home to the Father. He came to himself and said, 'I will arise and go to my father.' He got up and walked home. In my case the father chased me down and in his love brought me to himself kicking and screaming so great was his love.' This is exactly what happened with Gomer. She never came to herself; she never had a moment where she decided to get up and go home. No, she just kept on sinning no matter what the cost. Hosea dragged her back so to speak. He went looking for her, she didn't go looking for him. Don't forget that Hosea's marriage is a picture of Hosea's God and His marriage to the Jewish nation. God loves Israel. Never doubt that they are his chosen people. Jesus loves the church, never doubt that we are his chosen bride. So in chapters 11-14 I want to briefly see the good ending to a very difficult story concerning Gomer. Only God can take a mess like this and make something beautiful out of it.