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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: BRIDE (02/25/21)
God is referred to as Israel’s husband in the Old Testament (Isaiah 54:5). From the time God made his covenant promises to Abraham, He vowed to love and prosper Israel. They were to be an example to the other nations. These blessings were not solely for Israel though, but for all nations (Genesis 12:2-3). In order to receive these blessings God only asked that Israel love Him and remain faithful to Him.

Before they entered Canaan, the covenant was renewed with the new generation of Israelites. Moses told the people: “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God.Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.” (Deuteronomy 27:9).

After conquering the Canaanites and taking possession of the land, Joshua pleaded with the Israelites to give up the gods they served while in Egypt. He urged them to serve the true God who rescued them, delivered them, and brought them into the land He promised. Joshua told them if they turned their backs on the Lord He would bring disaster on them. The Israelites promised they would serve the Lord and obey Him (Joshua 24:24).

However, Israel reneged on that promise. They sinned against the Lord over and over again. Sin is like committing adultery, therefore the Israelites became unfaithful to their God. But God, because he loved Israel so much, sent prophets to speak to them in the hopes they would turn away from their other lovers (foreign gods) and come back to Him. One such prophet was Hosea. He became a prophet at the time when Israel was divided into two Kingdoms, Israel to the North and Judah to the South.

Hosea was prophet to Northern Israel, and Jeroboam II was ruler at the time. Israel prospered under his reign, but they lost sight of their true God. They began to worship Baal and the other Canaanite gods. Hosea’s message was to reveal to Israel how they have been unfaithful to God – their husband – and to warn them that unless they repent, they would receive the punishments alluded to in Deuteronomy 27 and 28.

To illustrate Israel’s unfaithfulness, God asked Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Gomer had three children who received symbolic names from God. Her first child was named Jezreel which means “God scatters” or “God sows”. Her second child, a daughter, was named “Lo-Ruhamah” which means “not loved”. Why? Because the Lord said He would no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them for their unfaithfulness. Gomer had a third child, a son, who God named “Lo-Ammi, which means “not my people”. Because of their adultery, they could no longer be called His people. God eventually divorced Israel by sending her into exile.

Gomer continued her life as a prostitute, just like the Israelites continued to worship other gods. But the Lord still loved Israel and was willing to take her back, therefore, he told Hosea to forgive Gomer and love her again. So Hosea went looking for Gomer and found her living as a slave. He had to pay half the slave price of 15 pieces of silver, together with some barley (slave food), and some wine in order to get her back. This offer showed how worthless Gomer had become. Nevertheless, she returned home and work begun on restoring the relationship.

This is how God loves us. No matter how grave our sin or how low we have sunk, he is willing to redeem us and restore us to a right relationship with Him. He did this by sending Jesus as a ransom for us.

In the New Testament, Jesus is the husband and the Church is His bride. As believers we are his betrothed and the wedding will take place upon His return. We will live together in eternity remaining true and faithful to each other.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Ramona Cook 
03/10/21
I really appreciate the presentation of your article.
Well done and well supported by Scripture.

I have heard people say, "I like the God of the New Testament, but the Old Testament God is harsh."

That has always perplexed me. The God of the Old is the same God of the New. Besides, as you present, God was most times just mushy about Israel. All they had to do was to repent and He was willing to forget it all. He is still that way today about all of us.
We don't seem to recognize that we have emotions BECAUSE God has emotions. He made us like Himself.