Speechless in Los Angeles
If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:13
We have a Catch member who has found out his wife has been unfaithful. Though his heart has been broken and he’s lost nights of sleep, his attitude is one of a loving, forgiving husband that recalls that of Hosea, a prophet in the Old Testament who was called of God to marry a prostitute. He proceeds to love her through her escapades, taking her back again and again and even going out after her to find her and bring her back. In so doing, he is illustrating how God loves Israel who as a nation whores after other gods, and yet God remains faithful to her, taking her back time and time again. This is, indeed, the history of much of the Old Testament.
This is also the history of God’s love for us. It is relentless, unconditional and everlasting. There’s nothing you or I can do about it. We can’t encourage it or discourage it. It is forgetful of our sins and full of mercy. It is a love that in many ways leaves us speechless.
We are the unfaithful wife. We stay out because we don’t think we deserve Him. Well, we don’t, but that doesn’t stop Him. Never has.
I’m recalling the lyrics to a song from the Sound of Music, “Nothing comes from nothing; nothing ever could. So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good.” We assume that to be loved, we must be worthy of that love in some way. We must have done something right. God’s love is different. It is not based at all in us. It is not something in us that draws love out of Him. It is a love that begins and ends with Himself. It originates with Him. He actually makes us worthy by loving us. And He makes others worthy of our love in the same way, because He loves them too.
When we love as God loves, we love in this way. It is not a love that comes from us. It originates from God and it comes from first being loved by God unconditionally. “We love because He first loved us.” We love by believing and receiving that love and turning it out towards others. If we are incapable of loving, it is because we have not received, nor do not believe that God loves us. It’s a true test of whether or not we know God’s love, if we can love others.
Love is a decision to see people as God sees them. His love makes them worthy of His love, and thus, our love, too.
John Fischer The Catch 
Another great Catch!
“Love is not a feeling, it’s an act of your will.” (Don Francisco)
This Old Testament story and metaphor has always disturbed me, because prostitution is not at all about having an affair. Prostitution is all about earning a living — Either because that is the best route available to you, or because you are compelled by a pimp. Perhaps the problem is the translation. Maybe it should say “Hosea married a serially-unfaithful woman” instead of “Hosea married a prostitute”. (Even the English language does not capture the difference between infidelity and prostitution). In any case, this catch did not provide insight about loving; instead it provided a reminder about how much the Old Testament denigrates and disrespects women.
Respectfully, Elizabeth – prostitution doesn’t necessarily mean payment has been received by the person involved .My NLT bible defines prostitute as someone involved in illicit sexual activity. Addiction is not limited to drugs, alcohol, food…in can play out in any area, including sexual promiscuity. And like any fed addiction, more and more is always needed to affect the ‘high.’
Hosea’s love is a picture of the love God had (and still has) for Israel, and indeed for each one of us. God follows us into the deepest pit of slime we get ourselves mired in. He forgives us, cleans us up, and gives us another chance…and another…and another…
As for Old Testament women, have you never heard of Naomi and Ruth, Esther, Deborah, Rahab, Sarah, and others? God raised up women at times to do a ‘man’s job’ when men failed.
Again, I speak in all respect – blessings to you.