It’s entirely possible for God to let you run into trouble. It happened all the time in Scripture. I think of Noah, who was laughed at for decades as he built the ark. I think of Abraham, who faced the decision of sacrificing his own son. I think of Moses, who had to lead a group of people who couldn’t seem to remember how good God had been to them. I think of the Judges period, in which the nation of Israel flat out didn’t get it. Repeatedly.
What’s interesting about these cases is that none of them are the same. They weren’t all disobedient. Shoot. Look at Job. He was simply obedient and all Hell broke loose in his life!
The only common denominator in these cases are that God had a plan and was drawing men to Himself by that plan. Maybe the only other common denominator is that none of these plans were easy.
Hosea’s story is no different. Gomer, his unfaithful wife, must have pushed him to his limits. I’m sure there were times that Hosea sat in his bed and pondered whether or not he had the capacity to continue in compassionate pursuit of her.
What I love about this story is that it is a testament to the difficulty of a life lived for God.
There is community in this (Hebrews 12:1-2). When I look around at the spiritual heroes in my life, I rarely take their hardships into consideration. For the most part, I am continually reflecting on their heart for God and their impact in peoples’ life.
I forget that God had them on a path for years, shaping them. I forget that he was molding them, using these events in their life to invite them into greater opportunities.
I forget that God has stretched me using seasons of struggle.
Let us not shake our fists at God when we encounter hardship. Let us not forget that His discipline is to be welcomed, because it is good (Hebrews 12:6). It is like the exercise of our souls, pushing us to a healthy place at which we will be able to encounter God at a new level.
““Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. As robbers lie in wait for a man, so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem; they commit villainy. In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.
For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed,
when I restore the fortunes of my people.Hosea 6 (emphasis mine)
The example of Hosea is clear: God will keep us through our struggles.Perry Noble has said something that has brought clarity to this in the past as well. He says, “If God brought you to it, then He’ll bring you through it.”
Check out Part 3 of “The Hosea Love Story” by Irving Bible.