Think how many in the church would respond today if someone in our midst believed that God had called them to marry a morally questionable young woman let alone a prostitute. Wouldn't we doubt God had spoken to them? Wouldn't we challenge this notion? In fact, it appears that in regards to Hosea and I would argue many other prominent people in Scripture, that God violates the first spiritual law:
God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life.
I doubt Dr. Bill Bright had marrying a prostitute in mind as part of God's wonderful plan for anyone's life. Yet that is exactly the plan God had for Hosea's life. This is just one of the problems with reductionist thinking. We want to boil down the gospel in four spiritual laws, pithy statements that summarize our core beliefs concerning God and our relationship to him. Yet Hosea's understanding of God and his relationship to God was a tad bit more complex then a set of spiritual laws.
Hosea may have given rise to the entire reality TV genre. The original show was, "Who Wants to Marry a Prostitute?"
2 comments:
I took a class studying Amos and Hosea. Calvin believes that Gomer was a story, not a real person, that Hosea used to get his point across. Since Calvins time though we have ran across what seems to me a lot of evidence that Gomer was a real person. I take a stand that says yes she was real, but no she wasn't a prostitute. She and Hosea were actors of sorts. This first part of the book is their play, they would do this play then Hosea would preach, just like what we find in many churches today. Drama based around the message. This makes a lot more sense to me. Calvin explains it somewhat himself. "We now see how the words of the Prophet ought to be understood; for he assumed a character, when going forth before the public, and in this character he said to the people that God had bidden him to take a harlot for his wofe, and to begot adulterous children to her" [Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets Vol. I Hosea, Wm B. Eerdmans Publisher Company, Grand Rapids, 1950.]
Another stand which I kinda lean towards is based around 2:7. She is chasing after false gods, her actions were of Baal behavior, not to Baal. Just like a christians acts like the world, but still not of it. Hosea is not appealing for a divorce but of her to follow Yahweh. 'Gomer was passionate just to the wrong things. She cheated on Yahweh, not on Hosea. but since Yaweh was Hosea's Go it was like she chated on Hosea' Macintosh pp45-48 [Macintosh, B.b., A.A; A Critcal and Exegetical Commentary on Hosea, T and T Clark Ltd. Edinburg, Scotland, 1997.]
Just another spin on the story.
And um, concerning the 4 Laws, didn't Hosea have a wonderful life in the end? That wonderful plan isn't a fun, easy one, but a wonderful one that pulls us closer to God. It is the hardest, at the time worst times that I call the most wonderful and thank God for daily! Cause it is those times that I draw to God the most it seems. So the story of Hosea doesn't violate this 'law' it proves it, just like the stories of David and so many others. Just another thought.
Check out my blog when you get a chance. Hope to talk soon!
http://journals.aol.com/lukefrog2002/KensTherapy/
Ken Storey(=
Thanks for the thoughts Ken. I have come across at least 6 different theories to explain this problem. Yet I still believe, following Dr. Gary Smith in the NIVAC that "it is best to accept a literal historical interpretation and conclude that Gomer was sexually involved with other men before and after her marriage with Hosea." (Hosea, Amos, Micah, NIVAC p. 28).
As to God having a wonderful plan for our lives, I don't doubt that God does have a wonderful plan for our lives. I just question what we mean by that. I think God's wonderful plan for us is to make us holy, more like Jesus Christ, participants in extending the kingdom of God, not making us happy.
Thanks for reading...I'll take a look at your blog!
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