Francine Rivers is an incredibly talented writer. She has a way of making the words on the pages pop out and come to life. I found myself being unable to put down her book, "Redeeming Love" because I was absolutely captivated by her words. She told the story of Hosea in such a way that I could relate and see the depth of the actual story from the Bible.
Hosea is one of the Old Testament books of the Bible. Though it tends to often be skimmed over by readers, it has incredible teaching value. Hosea was a Biblical character who had committed his life to God. Upon meeting a prostitute woman named Gomer, however, Hosea decides he must marry her. At first glance, the audience wonders how he can be obeying God if he is saying he wants to marry a prostitute woman. It soon becomes clear that the story is a direct parallel to the Israelites (God's chosen people), and God.
The story of "Redeeming Love" is one that is very convicting as a follower of Christ. The main characters in the story are Michael Hosea (meant to portray Hosea in the Bible), and Sarah, or Angel (meant to portray Gomer in the Bible). Throughout the book, Michael Hosea pursues the Angel, the prostitute, and she continuously rejects and leaves him. He spends his days asking why the Lord would allow him to feel the way he does over someone so impure and why it was him that was given this task. He obeys, though, and continues to pursue her.
Angel had never met a man in her life who didn't want to use her for her body. All she had ever known from men was that they only wanted one thing, and once they had gotten that, they were satisfied to leave. Angel had spent her life perfecting how to be emotionless and when she met Michael, she was thrown off guard. Michael paid for a night with Angel, but not once did he touch her. She told him to leave, but he continued to come back, paying every time. He finally made her his bride against her will, and thought he saw the end of her arguing. Despite Michael's unconditional love and care, Angel always ran away. Over and over Angel left the safety of her husband's house and returned to her life of sin. Over and over, however, Michael continued to rescue her and bring her back. He was persistent in showing her the love of Christ, and, though it was difficult, he never fully gave up hope. He was committed to proving to her that she was his wife and he would not be unfaithful despite her doubts.
This is a very convicting book to read because of the true depth of the story. Though it parallels the actual book of Hosea in the Bible, it makes the ideas found within it very relatable. If God is Michael Hosea, I am Angel. I am a prostitute in God's eyes, running away to lovers that will never satisfy me, and who will only use and abuse me. I continually and consistently forget the love that God pours out on me and disregard any attempt he makes at rescuing me. I am completely oblivious to His goodness in my life because of my own selfishness. Often I wonder when my time will come when I actually realize that He is what I am searching for. To quote C.S. Lewis, "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." God created us in such a way that we were never meant to be satisfied. This is because we're not with HIM yet!! It's not because He's cruel or mean or insensitive. It's because He IS all those things and He's just waiting to give us the best of it all!! Why do I continue to search for love in all the wrong places? I'll never know, but what I do know is that my amazing God will never stop pursuing this undeserving woman. How awesome!
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