This year, Scott and I will mark sixteen years since our first date, the beginning of our relationship. Just to give it a little perspective -- several of our friends are celebrating thirty-plus years married! So what were we doing the first, say, twenty years of adulthood? I won't speak for Scott, but I was screwing up, and dragging other people into my mess. And that's that. Scott knows that. I've never tried to hide it -- nor did I want to hide it from him. He loves me in spite of who I was before I knew him, and in spite of who I am now (particularly on my days when I haven't slept so well the night before), and he has promised to love me despite any rotten thing -- or things -- I may one day do. That is HUGE! But, I too made the same pledge. It's a relationship. Relationships require the active participation of both parties toward a common, agreed upon end. We commit to treating one another as each of us wishes to be treated. So, the rotten thing -- or things -- should never be an issue, because of relationship.
Our Bible study group has been exploring the Book of Hosea. In brief, Hosea is a prophet to the nation of Israel. Israel has broken their covenant with God. Among other things, they have worshipped false gods, looked to earthly kings for help instead of YHWH (with whom they were in a committed relationship), and ignored the laws He put in place for their protection. As a living object lesson, paired with a prophetic warning and hope, God instructs Hosea to marry and have children with a loose woman who will become a prostitute. God tells Hosea to have a marriage relationship -- the most sacred, sometimes difficult, emotional and consuming relationship -- with a woman who will be unfaithful! She will embarrass him. She will hurt him. She will take from him and give nothing in return. She will abandon him. But, Hosea does it, because he trusts and obeys God. He cares for her, even raises the children she has with other men, buys her back as his own when she has sold herself into slavery, and always desires better for her. Hosea loves her and remains in a marriage relationship with her despite how she has treated him in the past; despite seeing the faces of romantic rivals in her bastard children as he provides for them daily; despite the knowledge that she is imperfect, has an unfaithful and rebellious spirit, and will leave him, betraying him time after time.
How easy I have found it, over the years, to identify with Hosea. In those first twenty years of adulthood, I tied myself to people who betrayed me and hurt me. I'd go back, hoping that "this time" they were genuine. They were again, unfaithful, and I was again, wounded. But I was no victim. I learned that, in truth, I wasn't loving as Hosea loved, as God loves us. I was doing what was easiest or most comfortable for me. I remained because I, too, needed something, something I believed I couldn't find elsewhere. That is not the story of Hosea, and that is not the revelation of God's love in it.
Hosea's story was intended to show Israel's sin, and by extension, reveals humanity's sin nature. It also reveals God's incomprehensible power to love even those who despise Him. God needs nothing from any man; He is complete, in and of Himself. He didn't strive with Israel, and doesn't remain patient with us for any other reason but His character. Whatever mercy and grace He holds out to unfaithful and idolatrous people, is because of who He is. While I might identify momentarily with Hosea's hurt, the greatest portion of my natural born identity lies with Hosea's wife, Gomer. I am, in the natural, deceitful and wicked; but just as Hosea redeemed his harlot wife, God has redeemed me through Jesus' work at the cross. As Hosea purchased Gomer that she might come and live with him the life of a forgiven, faithful and beloved wife, embraced in the fullness of a loving and committed relationship, so God has made this possible for each and every one of us. Hosea's imperfect marriage to Gomer demonstrated to Israel and reveals to us, God's perfect love for otherwise hopelessly sinful people, and His commitment to relationship.
Where are you in your relationship with the Lord? Maybe you can celebrate thirty-plus years, maybe you haven't quite had your "first date" yet. Maybe there was a time when things were good between you, but other things competed for your devotion, and you abandoned the relationship. God is still as committed to loving you as He was the day Jesus stumbled His way to the cross. He knows your past, but loves you anyway. He loves you in the present, and has pledged to love you in the future. Ask Him to turn your heart toward Him. Read the Scriptures to discover His character and your role in God's plan. And know the joy of being forgiven, beloved, sanctified, and embraced in the fullness of a loving, committed relationship with the One True God.
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