The writer, Robert Jordan, is known for having said, “Men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but always remember.” I don’t know what you concentrate on that quote or whether it’s an idea you’re more likely to agree or disagree with, but I believe we will all attest to the incontrovertible fact that forgiveness, each time it’s practiced, is an intentional and sacrificial act.
My mind easily recalls people and situations that the Lord called me to increase forgiveness toward, though it wasn’t easy to achieve this. Likewise, I’m often reminded of moments in my life after I was the one who needed forgiveness. I’ve even heard it said that, “A healthy marriage is made up of two good forgivers.” I don’t know who to attribute that quote to, but I actually agree with whoever first said it.
And should you find it particularly difficult to increase forgiveness, please understand that the Lord isn’t asking you to do something He wasn’t willing to do first. There isn’t any greater example of forgiveness than the forgiveness we’ve been offered through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus who had done no improper bore our sin on the cross in order that we might be indwelled with His presence, gifted with His righteousness, and forgiven us of each improper we’ve ever committed in act, attitude, or nature.
The third chapter of the book of Hosea illustrates the relational and everlasting power of forgiveness in a way that may’t help but impact us. I still remember the very first time I gave serious thought to this portion of Scripture. I used to be visiting a Sunday School class on the church my wife grew up in. The class was taught by the youth pastor, and I used to be literally amazed by the words of this passage, the depth of the forgiveness of God, and the ways He asks us to forgive those that have sinned against us.
God Loves Those Who Are Painful to Love.
And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a lady who’s loved by one other man and is an adulteress, whilst the Lord loves the youngsters of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” Hosea 3:1
The previous two chapters of Hosea’s book painted an image of unfaithfulness that’s difficult to take into consideration. Hosea was instructed to marry Gomer, a lady who wouldn’t remain true to him. They had a baby together, followed by her conceiving two additional children that in all likelihood weren’t Hosea’s children.
Their relationship was meant for example the character of the connection Israel had with God during that era of history. God loved Israel, but Israel loved the things of this world and the false assurances of worldly aspirations greater than she loved the Lord. Gomer was likewise caught up on this same mindset. Not only did she reject the Lord, she also rejected her husband. God’s grief toward His bride was on full display for anyone who cared to look at what was going down in Hosea’s prophetically significant marriage.
Along the best way, it seems that Gomer was not only unfaithful to Hosea, but she left his house to pursue others together with the trimmings of their decadent and idolatrous culture. As he pondered easy methods to respond, the Lord instructed Hosea to pursue Gomer again and love her.
When most individuals use the word “love”, they often speak of an emotional attraction or infatuation that is very conditional in nature. When the Lord instructed Hosea to like Gomer, He meant rather more than that.
True love involves looking for the perfect for another person, even at great personal cost to yourself. True love is usually exhibited in contrast to how one might naturally feel. It’s an act of the need that forces us to withstand becoming defensive. It also puts us able where we will be easily hurt. If I don’t care about someone, they don’t run much risk of injuring me in a long-lasting way because they’re easy for me to stop interested by and even easier for me to avoid interacting with. But when I like someone like my wife, children, clan, or friends, I’m taking an enormous risk because the chances of them hurting me are high.
God willingly takes that risk with us. He’s willing to like those that are painful to like. When Jesus took on flesh, walked amongst us, and died in our place, He actually experienced pain. And yet it was all price it to Him. He made the alternative to like seemingly unlovable people and He is not going to be rescinding or revoking that call.
God Has Purchased Our Freedom from Slavery to Sin.
So I purchased her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. – Hosea 3:2
Throughout the Scriptures, the concept of slavery is addressed in multiple ways. As detestable as slavery is to our modern sensibilities, it has very sadly been practiced by all people groups throughout the course of human history. We see examples of slavery in the fashionable era, but we also see examples within the era when Hosea was living as well.
Believe it or not, some types of slavery were, in a way, voluntary. One of essentially the most common ways an individual might historically develop into a slave was through owing a debt after which offering themself as a slave for a time period as a way to repay that debt. It’s a more extreme example of the best way we commonly joke about washing dishes at a restaurant if we discover that we don’t have the funds for to pay our tab.
I don’t know all the main points of Gomer’s slavery, however it appears that she was reaping the results of her terrible life selections. Somehow, whether through personal indulgences, actions connected to prostitution, or through force, she had develop into a slave after leaving Hosea’s home. Hosea was instructed by God to purchase her back. He was told to buy Gomer’s freedom. That motion sounds strikingly familiar to what God has done on our behalf.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. – Colossians 1:13-14, NLT
Hosea rescued Gomer and purchased her freedom from slavery. God rescues His people and purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are actually free to live in righteousness and avoid being further entrapped by the sin that after held us captive.
God Invites His People to Dwell with Him in Close Fellowship.
And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for a lot of days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to a different man; so will I even be to you.” – Hosea 3:3
Hosea instructed Gomer to live with him and stop giving herself to others. This was an invite to rekindle a detailed relationship of fellowship and renewed trust. In this invitation, Hosea says something slightly strong that I feel compelled to focus on. He said to Gomer, “You shall not play the whore.” How does that instruction strike you?
I recognize that isn’t the sort of sentence it is advisable to use amongst polite company, however it is useful for us to think about things in stark terms with regards to the character of our sin and what that sin is doing to us.
Every time I give in to my old nature and welcome sin into my life, I’m being unfaithful to God. I’m effectively playing the a part of a “whore”, and I don’t mind speaking of my seasons of spiritual unfaithfulness to the Lord that way since it paints a more accurate picture of the severity of sin than glazing over it’s going to.
We’ve played the a part of the whore long enough. Now is the time for us to enjoy close fellowship with our Lord who has no desire to see us as we once were. In His eyes, we develop into a spotless and precious bride, so let’s not return to the mess He first found us in.
Purge Your Life of the Idols You Once Worshipped.
For the youngsters of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. – Hosea 3:4
During Hosea’s days, the people of Israel were adopting the idolatrous worship practices of the Canaanites who worshipped Baal and carried out all styles of godless traditions and sacrifices.
Israel was being called to purge their lives of idols. We’re called to purge the idols from our lives as well.
One of the ways you’ll be able to discover if there’s an idol in your life is thru your behaviors whenever you’re offended, stressed, anxious, or in pain. What do you do in those moments? Where are you looking for comfort? How are you attempting to distract yourself or sooth your pain? If Jesus isn’t your primary comfort, you might be welcoming the presence of hidden idols into your life.
Purge your lifetime of the idols and find rest to your soul in Jesus.
Get Ready for the Return of Jesus.
Afterward the youngsters of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and so they shall are available in fear to the Lord and to his goodness within the latter days. – Hosea 3:5
One of the fun we discover in reading prophetic books is the incontrovertible fact that not only do they confront present-day problems, additionally they reveal future blessings. The Holy Spirit revealed to Hosea future blessings that shall be enjoyed by God’s people and directed him to jot down these words down on the conclusion of this chapter.
It was revealed to Hosea that though there was much idolatry at present, a day was coming when the youngsters of Israel would return to the Lord and worship Him as God. Likewise, there could be a day when Israel would acknowledge David as their king.
That’s an interesting thing to contemplate, especially since David was from the southern kingdom of Judah, and on the time of Hosea’s writing Israel and Judah weren’t operating in unity. It also needs to be noted that David had been king roughly 250-300 years prior to this passage being written, so this have to be referring to a king who could be a direct descendent of David.
Hosea’s words give further confirmation of the words Nathan the prophet spoke on behalf of God to David several hundred years earlier.
And your own home and your kingdom shall be made sure ceaselessly before me. Your throne shall be established ceaselessly.’ – 2 Samuel 7:16
This promise is one more prophetic promise that finds its ultimate success in Jesus who, in regard to His earthly lineage, was a descendent of David. Jesus is the “David” that Hosea was speaking of. The one who would someday be acknowledged as King by the people of Israel.
That day is coming, but we don’t should wait to see Him with our eyes before acknowledging Him as our Rescuer, Redeemer, Messiah, and King. We can honor Him as King today.
© John Stange, 2025/Originally published by Bible Study Headquarters. Used with permission.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Priscilla Du Preez
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads a web based community called Platform Launchers where he helps people construct message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded tens of millions of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
