The Transformative Power of Redemption: Lessons from Hosea part 3 / S3E23

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What if you could experience the depth of forgiveness and love like never before? Through the compelling narrative of Hosea and Gomer, we unravel profound themes of love, redemption, and forgiveness that resonate deeply with God's relationship with us. This episode brings to life Hosea's unwavering commitment to redeem Gomer, mirroring God's steadfast love for Israel and, by extension, us. By examining Hosea 3:1-2 and 1 Peter 1:18-19, we explore the ultimate price paid for our redemption through Christ, urging us to offer second chances and extend mercy in our relationships.

We also reflect on Israel's response to God's redemptive actions and draw parallels to our own spiritual journey. The story of Hosea serves as a timeless reminder of God's relentless pursuit of our hearts, despite our unfaithfulness. Through the lens of Luke 15:20-22, we witness the transformative power of redemption in restoring relationships and the challenge of spreading the gospel. Embrace the call to share the message of forgiveness, reminding others that God's grace and Jesus' sacrifice have brought us home. Join us as we encourage each other to reach out to those who've turned away and invite them back into the fold of God's love.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, this week we are on Hosea, part 3, and this
is where Hosea redeems Gomer.
This is a picture of God'sforgiveness, hosea 3, 1-2 says.
Then the Lord said to me Goagain.

(00:24):
Love a woman who is loved by alover and is committing adultery
, just like the love of the Lordfor the children of Israel who
took other gods.
So I bought her for myself for15 shekels of silver and one and
a half homers of barley.
He purchased Gomer out ofslavery.

(00:49):
That is a representative ofGod's redemption of Israel, even
though they were unfaithful.
And you know the funny thing?
I read this and realized Hosealoved Gomer, just like God loves
us, and he paid the ultimateprice for our redemption through

(01:14):
Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1, 18-19 says knowingthat you were not redeemed with
corruptible things like silveror gold from your aimless
conduct, received by traditionfrom your fathers, but with the
precious blood of Christ as thelamb, without blemish and

(01:35):
without spot.
That's how we are redeemed, andGod has such a willingness to
forgive us.
Micah 7, 18 says and God hassuch a willingness to forgive us

(02:00):
.
Micah 7, 18 says Isn't thatspecial?
Hosea trusted God enough thathe did what he asked him to do
and he went out and purchasedGomer, just like Jesus paid the
price to redeem us from our sins.

(02:22):
And how did Israel respond toGod's redemptive actions?
Well, not very well.
But how do we do that?
And living faithfully for God?
Luke 15, 20 through 22 says andhe arose and came to his father

(02:44):
.
But when he was still a greatway off, his father saw him and
had compassion and ran and fellon his neck and kissed him,
bring out the best robe and putit on him and put a ring on his
hand and sandals on his feet,because the son had come home.

(03:05):
The whole story of Hosea showsus unconditional love and
redemption.
Gomer's unfaithfulnessrepresents our sin and Israel's
spiritual adultery.

(03:26):
Israel turned so far from Godand you see it every day.
You see it in the world nowthat people pursue other gods

(03:46):
like money and fame and sinfulpractices, and they stray.
But God's unwaveringwillingness to forgive is just
beautiful.

(04:06):
Redeeming Gomer wasn't justabout forgiveness.
It was about takingresponsibility and showing grace
.
Taking responsibility andshowing grace.
Hosea's choice to redeem herdespite her past teaches that

(04:27):
redemption involves activelyreaching out, offering second
chances and rebuilding arelationship based on mercy and
love.
And that's what God does to us.
No matter how far we fall,god's love is persistent.
Just as Hosea restored hismarriage, god would restore

(04:50):
Israel if they returned to him.
Israel, much like Gomer, wasdeeply entrenched in
unfaithfulness by embracingidolatry and forsaking their
covenant with God.
This spiritual blindnessprevented them from seeing
Hosea's personal life as amirror of their collective

(05:10):
relationship with God.
You know, I wondered when thishappened.
Did Israel notice what wasgoing on in Hosea's life?
Did Israel see the children'snames and what Gomer was doing?
Or did Israel just ignore Hoseaand what was going on with him?

(05:33):
Well, they ignored himbasically.
Well, they ignored himbasically.
And the message of Hosea was notinternalized by the Israelites,
but it has been a wonderfulreminder of God's relentless

(05:54):
pursuit of a repentant heart.
Hosea listened.
Hosea understood what Godwanted from him.
Now he went and bought Gomer.

(06:14):
God tells us to go and preachthe gospel.
And if we go out and preach thegospel and show their sin and
let them know that God hasredemption powers, that God is
forgiving and merciful andloving and kind, and that they

(06:35):
just need to turn from theirwicked ways, that's what God's
looking for.
That's what he wants from us.
That's what he asked of Hosea.
Can you do that, can you reachout to people that you loved,

(06:56):
that have turned their back onGod and let them know, tell them
the good news, help to showthem that Jesus bought them back
and that the sin is no longernecessary, the sin is no longer
needed, that God's grace and Hismercy and His love and Jesus'

(07:21):
work on the cross brought themhome.