Wayward Ones Restored

Being called by God to be a prophet is no easy calling. Hosea, who prophesied in the 7th century before Christ, was told by Yahweh to marry a woman named Gomer who would commit gross adultery. Her adultery was a picture of the spiritual adultery the nation of Israel was committing against Yahweh by consorting with pagan gods. This rebellion and unfaithfulness merited God's harsh judgment, but his covenant love for his people stimulated his compassion toward them as he sought and restored and cleansed a number of them. So likewise Hosea bought back his wife who had been sold on the open market. In site of her adultery Hosea forgave and restored her to the marriage relationship.