September 22 Krum Star
Article
"The Love Story of Gomer and Hosea"
The Bible has fascinated me
from the time I really began to read it when I was an
undergraduate at Rice University, oh those many years
ago. I found much of it strange and hard to understand
and much of it remains strange and hard to understand.
It is a book written by multiple authors in languages
that are not mine and set in times and cultures I can’t
experience directly. Yet it speaks so well to our human
longing for connection with a loving and gracious God.
One of my favorite stories
tells about Hosea, a prophet. He had the job of calling
people to return to God when they had wandered away.
Prophets never had an easy
life. Generally people were angered by the prophet’s
words. It wasn’t uncommon for such prophets to find
themselves in some pretty extreme circumstances. I’m
betting a lot of them wondered at times what God really
had in mind when God called them to such a life.
Hosea had to be one who questioned
God about his own circumstances. He was directed by God
to marry Gomer, a woman of, shall we say, “doubtful
reputation.” Three children later, with the last
two most definitely of questionable paternity, this same
woman left Hosea and returned to living in a manner opposite
of everything Hosea stood for. Can we even begin to imagine
his grief and embarrassment and anger over her actions?
Many years later, Hosea discovers
that Gomer is to be sold for her debts at a slave auction.
Surely everyone’s mouths fell open with shock when
he purchases her. He then tells the gathered crowd that
instead of ensuring this fallen and somewhat despicable
creature got her just rewards, he was going to restore
her to the position of honor as his wife.
What a picture of God’s
love! This coming Sunday, September 24, we’re going
to act out this powerful story of redemption at the 10:55
worship service at Krum UMC. Come and join us and discover
again how the grace of God does invite us all to a place
of honor.
