[Pebbles_Nibbles]

Could you (men, in particular) have done what was asked of Hosea? Ladies, would you have done the same had you been a man? Why would God ask someone to marry an adulterous woman? What point was the Lord making? "The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord." (Hos.1:2)

Pebbles:>

[kina]

>"The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said >to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of >whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing >from the Lord." (Hos.1:2)

By Hosea marrying the whore, he was ridding the 'world' of all the children that had been born from these whores. He was of the Lord and he was cleansing the world; thus giving birth to Gods children.
If I was Hosea, I believed in God and in the life after, I would do it.

[nyawera_1]

>Could you (men, in particular) have done what was asked of
>Hosea? Ladies, would you have done the same had you been a
>man? Why would God ask someone to marry an adulterous woman?
>What point was the Lord making? "The beginning of the word of
>the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto
>thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the
>land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord."
>(Hos.1:2)
>

I see no problem with that (if I were a man). Virtuous virgins are over-rated anyway.
However, I'm very suspicious about the bible since it was written years later by a bunch of men. Maybe Hosea wanted some new/exciting 'nani...so he used this as an excuse. I wouldn't put it past a man.

[Pebbles_Nibbles]

@Nyawera,
I understand why you are suspicious of the Bible since it was written by men. However, have you considered who directed them to write? Read 2 Peter 1:21... It will help you and then of course with diligent and prayerful study of the Bible you will find more truths that you cannot shake your finger at. The Author of the Bible is Divine and its foundation is sure and firm.:)

Actually in Hosea's case, the Lord directed him to do this and that is why I posed the question why the Lord did so. It wasn't Hosea's idea but the Lord's direction. How many people do you know would marry someone, knowing beforehand, that that person was going to commit adultery at some point in the marriage? :( Yet, this is what Hosea did; and his story presents a graphic message, not only about sin but about forgiveness, as well.

Think about it: There are few ways in which a husband-and-wife relationship (symbolic of the intimacy God wants with His people) can be more violated than in the case of adultery. The key word here is RELATIONSHIP. Sin, at its core, damages our relationship with God and with each other. Sin is a corruption of the entire being, one that results only in conflict and turmoil within ourselves and with others. A person becomes incapable of trusting or being trusted, loving or being loved. Sin is not just what we do; it reflects what we are. Adultery, as presented here in Hosea, is just one dramatic manifestation of sin and of how it impacts our relationships, not only with each other but with God.

What do you think?:)

>I see no problem with that (if I were a man). Virtuous virgins
>are over-rated anyway.
>However, I'm very suspicious about the bible since it was
>written years later by a bunch of men. Maybe Hosea wanted some
>new/exciting 'nani...so he used this as an excuse. I wouldn't
>put it past a man.

[nyawera_1]

Pebbles_nibbles, I can’t believe that you are pulling me into a religious conversation. Arghhhhhhh! x(
Let me give you a bit of background on my religious beliefs/or lack of them. I do believe in God, but I cut the line when we start getting into Jesus/Mohammad/Budda/etc.
I frown on any organized religion, to me it becomes too political and twisted due to the man-handling involved in its conception and running. The bible unfortunately falls into this category.

Many men have been “told” by God to commit heinous crimes on their fellow men. They have killed and raped whole civilizations in the name of God. People have used Him to validate their actions for centuries. I find it very hard to believe that God, could come to Hosea and tell him this….right now I could go on the street and slice someone’s throat open, and say that God told me to….but I digress.
However, if I was Hosea and I had a strong belief in God, I would marry this woman, and although on a personal level it would suck, it would be for a greater good. We as humans are too self-involved and narrow minded anyway.
I bet you this is the same thing the suicide bombers say to themselves when they push that button.

[Pebbles_Nibbles]

@Nyawera,

True men and women have applied the biblical teachings out of context or used it for selfish means. You will always know truth from error if it's not in harmony with the law of God. The Lord never contradicts Himself. In a case like Hosea's, where it appears that He is going contrary to His law, it takes spiritual discernment. Try to catch what is going on in this story. Gomer openly commits adultery, and yet the Lord tells Hosea to take her back, despite such a blatant violation of their marriage vows. Read Hosea 3:1-3. What must have been on the minds of those who saw Hosea go back and redeem her? How many understood this act as an example of God's willingness to take back His adulterous people, forgive their sins, and heal them from what those sins have done to them?

According to the letter of the law, Hosea could have stoned her to death; instead, he brought her back to live as his wife. That is the basic difference between LAW and GRACE: The law demands death for the transgressor, grace grants forgiveness. It show the love of God toward mankind despite our continued whoredom with sin of various kinds and degrees. The illustration the Lord has given is drastic but that is what it portrays in real life because as human beings we want tangible examples that they can relate to.
Pebbles.


>Pebbles_nibbles, I can’t believe that you are pulling me into
>a religious conversation. Arghhhhhhh! x(
>Let me give you a bit of background on my religious beliefs/or
>lack of them. I do believe in God, but I cut the line when we
>start getting into Jesus/Mohammad/Budda/etc.
>I frown on any organized religion, to me it becomes too
>political and twisted due to the man-handling involved in its
>conception and running. The bible unfortunately falls into
>this category.
>
>Many men have been “told” by God to commit heinous crimes on
>their fellow men. They have killed and raped whole
>civilizations in the name of God. People have used Him to
>validate their actions for centuries. I find it very hard to
>believe that God, could come to Hosea and tell him this….right
>now I could go on the street and slice someone’s throat open,
>and say that God told me to….but I digress.
>However, if I was Hosea and I had a strong belief in God, I
>would marry this woman, and although on a personal level it
>would suck, it would be for a greater good. We as humans are
>too self-involved and narrow minded anyway.
>I bet you this is the same thing the suicide bombers say to
>themselves when they push that button.
>
>
>