Romancing Gomer

“Romancing Gomer” is a modern-day (family-friendly) retelling of the events found in the Old Testament Biblical book of Hosea.

The Book of Hosea was written around 750 B.C. as a warning to the nation of Israel against their idolatry. It was a time of relative economic prosperity in the midst of moral and spiritual compromise. Instead of worshiping God, The Israelites were turning to the worship of Baal, a false Canaanite god of fertility and prosperity whose worship often included many sexual excesses, even infant sacrifice. Sadly, the Israelites were attributing their economic successes to their worship of Baal rather than God’s ongoing protection.

In an effort to get the Israelites attention, God instructs the prophet Hosea to do something very dramatic - marry an adulterous woman. Hosea’s experiences of marriage to Gomer, who would be perpetually unfaithful to him, were to be an example of how the Israelites were treating God. It was also an insight into God’s jealous, hurt, at times angry, but always faithful heart towards His people.

Sadly, the nation of Israel did not heed the warnings given through Hosea and change their ways. As a result, God lifted His hand of protection and the nation was destroyed about 30 years later by the Assyrian Empire.
As Christians, we view this Old Testament book through the New Testament lense of Jesus’ self-sacrificial love for humanity. This story serves as an example of how even in the midst of our unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, God loved us so much that he sent His Son to die on our behalf so we could be reconciled to God.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Discussion Questions:
Read Hosea 1.
What is Hosea asked to do? What hardships and heartache would he face for following these instructions?
Compare the children’s names given in Hosea 1:4, 6 & 8 with their “renaming” in Hosea 2:21-23. What does this tell us about God’s heart?

Read Hosea 3.
How is this action a foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption that would happen through Jesus?