A Bridegroom God in Love with a Harlot

“Go again Hosea . . . love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans” Hosea 3:1-2

The prophet pondered in amazement. Intense sorrow and passion engulfed his soul. His mind remained confused, anxiously reasoning for logic . . .

Go again? Love her again?

After tasting the bitter wine of betrayal, Hosea was invited to love as the Lord loves, and experience the complexity of His desire for humans.

The woman: Gomer, the harlot. The story tells that the Lord commanded Hosea to marry a prostitute… not only that, but he was to have children of prostitution (Hos.1:2). And you think your reputation is in trouble?

Nevertheless, after finding true love and a family, Gomer embraced the wounds of her soul and abandoned the prophet. The plot reveals she went wildly astray and played the harlot with many lovers.

Why did she leave? Why did Gomer run away after tasting so much good? Good question! Our famous (ex-harlot, runaway wife, and harlot-again) presents a picture… one that you and I know very well. She is a portrait of the human heart. Gomer unveils the backsliding and adulterous tendencies of our souls.

Don’t cry yet—the fascinating story of Gomer and Hosea also introduces the beauty of God’s heart. The maker of heaven and earth, the supreme King of the universe breaks in and reveals himself as the Lovesick God… the bridegroom God.

As we will see, understanding and intimately knowing that God is a bridegroom is essential. Why? We will only see ourselves as the bride of Christ by knowing and encountering Him as our Bridegroom.

Put differently, by beholding the heavenly bridegroom we discover our identity as His cherished bride. There is no point in writing about God’s unrelenting love if He is not seen as a passionate bridegroom.

Even more—there is a bride because there was first a Bridegroom. It all started with God and His burning heart…

Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . .” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God he created Him; male and female He created them. ~ Gen. 1:26-27

The Lord formed us in His own image. Man is wonderfully made from the dust into His own likeness. We are the marvelous display of God’s infinite power and glory. Fabulous! But have you ever wondered why…

Why did He do it? Why did God created man? Pause for a second and consider:

God—who knows all things and dwells eternity without time… the Beginning without beginning… the One who sees and declares the end from the start (according to Isaiah)… He perfectly knew His image bearers would fall from grace. He foreknew Adam, Eve, the serpent, Hosea, Gomer, Israel—the entire drama—from the first family until the end of the age, God knows it all.

Yet, at Eden He breathed His life and man became a living being. Why?

Why the trouble? Why taking the risk of granting free will? What was the all sufficient and ever knowing God looking for? Is it possible to discover His motive for creating us? Was God bored? Did he create out of boredom or fueled by desire?

Let’s suppose we decide to rule out divine boredom, then is fair to ask: what kind of passion fueled His creative power? It is very important for us to know answer. It matters, greatly.

What about Calvary? Why Jesus died on that cross? We know a lot about the benefits (what was accomplished), and the need to supply redemption to a dying race, but very little about the why. We must know and study the why. Because the why of the cross unveils the pinnacle of God’s emotions and reveals the motives of His heart.

Here is an idea: ask the Holy Spirit today “Why did you created me? Why did Jesus die on that cross?” Ask.. and take the time to listen.

It’s not my purpose here to answer. I’m only seeking to awaken your divine curiosity. Perhaps, unlock the eternity that is written on your heart.

I will simply close by saying…

It would be completely ironic and meaningless if You and I are just the idea of a bored God. Because the God I know yearns deeply… He passionately pursuits and desires. He is a Bridegroom God. Love, beauty, and romance burn deep within His heart.