​God loves to shower blessings and good gifts upon His beloved children.  However, sometimes we, as fallen man, love and worship the gifts rather than the Giver.  When this begins to happen, God’s heart is very grieved and out of His love, He begins to discipline us—which often begins with deprivation.  

​Gomer’s sin and adultery led her into slavery and bondage.  While it is unclear whether she became a literal slave, Gomer was indeed enslaved mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to the lifestyle she had chosen.  She was trapped in the downward spiral of sin, and in her own power she couldn’t escape, even if she wanted to.
 
Nevertheless, the faithful husband that she had left behind was on his way to rescue her…

​God and Israel.  Hosea and Gomer.  Two covenant relationships that ended in estrangement.  However, as we learned last week, God would eventually woo back Israel’s wayward heart and Israel would return to the God of her fathers'.  But what about Hosea and Gomer?  After giving Hosea three kids, Gomer took off and returned to her life of prostitution, flitting from man to man until she ended up in slavery.  So was there any hope for their relationship?

​At some point in life, everyone makes a stupid decision or two.  Okay, that was sarcasm.  Let’s face it, we make a LOT of stupid decisions.  But hopefully our moments of stupidity are nowhere near as serious and long lasting as Israel’s.