Tonight I am speaking at Essex University Christian Union. They have asked me to speak about Hosea, one of the so-called ‘Minor Prophets’ from the Old Testament.
I think that the label ‘Minor’ is very unfair to these people. Just because their recorded words and actions are fewer than the biggies like Isaiah and Jeremiah, it does not mean that their words are any less significant. Just because they take up less space in our Bibles does not mean that they are any less heroic than people like Moses. Just because we often find them difficult to find (interesting concept: finding something difficult to find) it does not mean that God did not and does not speak through these people any more than he did and does through Paul’s letters.
Hosea was an incredible man who was so in touch with God and so willing to obey him that he lived his whole life as an acted parable of how God viewed his people. He married a woman of dubious reputation (Gomer) who lived down to that reputation, left him and went back to her dodgy lifestyle. Hosea then searched for her, found her, bought her back and made her his wife once again.
If you can’t see parallels with the way that God has dealt with us, then I suggest you read Hosea and then read Romans 3.
The way Hosea graciously and lovingly treated Gomer would make a wonderful film. To think that it is factual is amazing. To think what it represents sent a shiver down my spine.
Thank you God that you love me unconditionally and have been even more gracious to me than Hosea was to Gomer.
The Bible has some interesting ways in which men “wooed” their women*:
Find an attractive prisoner of war, bring her home, shave her head, trim her nails, and give her new clothes. Then she’s yours. — (Deuteronomy 21:11-13)
Find a prostitute and marry her. — Hosea (Hosea 1:1-3)
Find a man with seven daughters, and impress him by watering his flock. — Moses (Exodus 2:16-21)
Purchase a piece of property, and get a woman as part of the deal. — Boaz (Ruth 4:5-10)
Go to a party and hide. When the women come out to dance, grab one and carry her off to be your wife. — Benjaminites (Judges 21:19-25)
Have God create a wife for you while you sleep. Note: this will cost you a rib. — Adam (Genesis 2:19-24)
Agree to work seven years in exchange for a woman’s hand in marriage. Get tricked into marrying the wrong woman. Then work another seven years for the woman you wanted to marry in the first place. That’s right. Fourteen years of toil for a woman. — Jacob (Genesis 29:15-30)
Cut off 200 foreskins off of your future father-in-law’s enemies and get his daughter for a wife. — David (1Samuel 18:27)
Even if no one is out there, just wander around a bit and you’ll definitely find someone. — Cain (Genesis 4:16-17)
Become the emperor of a huge nation and hold a beauty contest. — Xerxes (Esther 2:3-4)
When you see someone you like, go home and tell your parents, “I have seen a …woman; now get her for me.” If your parents question your decision, simply say, “Get her for me. She’s the one for me.” — Samson (Judges 14:1-3)
Kill any husband and take HIS wife. (Prepare to lose four sons though). — David (2 Samuel 11)
Wait for your brother to die. Take his widow. (It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law). — Onan and Boaz (Deuteronomy or Leviticus, example in Ruth)
Don’t be so picky. Make up for quality with quantity. — Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-3)
A wife?…NOT!!! — Paul (1 Corinthians 7:32-35)
*this blog does not recommend or endorse any of the above methods!
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