The “Hosea commentary” in our Quest Bible reads: “Wake up Israel, Hosea’s love for his unfaithful wife demonstrates God’s love for his unfaithful people. Hosea was called to walk a very difficult path in life. It was through his pain and suffering that Hosea’s intimacy with God grew.” (Quest Study Bible, p.1318)
Hosea chapters 1 and 3 speak messages of repentance, restoration, reconciliation, and return, beckoning the nation of Israel to return to Yahweh. God is watching “what’s happening in the world.” God is watching “what’s happening in our inner-private lives.” Our Heavenly Father has all the information about our personal situations. Like God told Israel, God is inviting all of us to “Wake Up and Get Well.” God calls the church to live out a major role in the world, reflecting the intimacy and love of God, being salt and light. God’s love for His creation is demonstrated through the church.
So Hosea marries an unfaithful woman, and this story feels like a soap opera. Who wants to be married to someone who is unfaithful? Our Heavenly Father, lovingly speaking truth to us regarding Hosea’s situation, declares that the Holy Spirit desires to teach us all that is “true,” and despite our unfaithfulness to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God remains faithful to us.
We like sheep have gone astray. Yet, we are commanded in God’s word to abstain from sin and “straying tendencies” every day. When we choose to repent and return to God, God reconciles us to himself.