We are looking at the prophets of the Old Testament who looked with Great Expectation to the coming of the Messiah. And today, we are looking at the story of Hosea.
God told prophet Hosea to marry Gomer, a promiscuous woman, because God wants to show us that our relationship with him is like a marriage.
But, just as Gomer was unfaithful and went be in the arms of another lover, we are unfaithful to God and go to be in the arms of another lover. And just as Hosea was hurt to see his wife in the arms of another man, God is hurt when we are unfaithful to him.
But, God commanded Hosea to go show his love to his wife again, to love her as the Lord loves the Israelites. And just as Hosea brought her back at a great price, Hosea prophesized that God would someday come and pay the cost to buy us back from bondage to sin, and reconcile us to a relationship with him again.
As we wait for Christmas, we wait for that great wedding day when Jesus is our bridegroom and we are his bride, bought with the price of his blood.