Hosea 1:2 "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry."

On the surface we may wonder why Hosea married a prostitute. Could you imagine what people may have thought, how respect for him dropped to zero and his reputation hurt.

Why would such a faithful and loving prophet and man of God fall for a woman such as she?" God told him to marry here and would use Hosea to demonstrate His message before Israel. Even though his marriage was an act of love and to God he stood justified and obedient; to the people he apperaded to be an idiot.

Hosea's wife gave birth to a daughter and two sons while his wife, then eventually she left home and went back into the streets. God spoke to Hosea telling him to go out, find her, and bring her back into his home with the family which he did. Hosea 3:1 "Go, and get your wife again and bring her back to you and love her, even though she loves adultery."

For a small price he bought her back from others' arms and claimed her as his own. Imagine what others though when Hosea lovingly carried her home.

God was using Hosea to model His message to those around him. From Hosea 4 on we see Hosea trying to get their attention to listen and return to God, but they never did. Hosea told them the truth that they were playing the harlot, that they had left God's love. God continued to call them to Himself but they refused to listen and obey.

We are no different from them, how we turn away from a loving and caring God and refuse to come to Him, to listen to Him calling to us by His Son Jesus who died for our sins. Accept the call of Jesus today.