Why did God Command Hosea to Marry an Adulterous Wife?

(By Pastor Mark Fontecchio)

Question: Why did God command Hosea to marry an adulterous wife?

Answer: The opening words from the book of Hosea can be an affront to our understanding of God. Hosea was instructed to, “Go take yourself a wife of harlotry” (Hosea 1:2). This heart-wrenching instruction from God was meant to command the attention of men. The tribes of Israel were steeped in sin. Specifically, we read that the, “land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord” (v. 2). Again, we are told, “Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: ‘There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land’” (Hosea 4:1). By examining the backdrop of this time we can see the problem more specifically. During the years of the prophet’s ministry (identified for us in Hosea 1:1), the people of Israel had been unfaithful to the Lord. The blending of idolatry and the worship of false gods with the worship of the God of Israel brought about the displeasure of the Lord.

This brings us directly to the issue at hand. The unfaithfulness of the people to their God was confronted by the message contained in Hosea. Instructing the prophet to marry an adulterous wife illustrated the foolishness of their actions. It brought it down to a level that the people could understand and relate to. Just as we want a spouse that is solely committed to us, so it is that the Lord wants His people to remain faithful to Him. Just as we want a bride or a groom that is pure and undefiled, so it is that God wants His people to remain undefiled from the counterfeit worship that surrounds us. This was powerfully and tragically illustrated in Hosea’s marriage to Gomer. Two of the three children that she had may not have even been his (cf. 1:3, 6, 8). Gomer was clearly an adulteress (Hosea 3:1).

The application for the people of Judah and Israel can be found in this powerful drama. Hosea was told by God, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans” (Hosea 3:1). Just like the unconditional love demonstrated by Hosea for Gomer, God would remain faithful to His people. Thus, Israel was told to, “Return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity (Hosea 14:1). Even though the people would be judged for their sins, the overarching picture given is of God’s never-ending love for His people.