What is The Essence of Love?

Hos 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.

The word Ishi means husband. What Hosea is saying to Gomer is that she can call him her husband. This marriage was a prophetic marriage and was ordained of God. The marriage wasn't a bed of roses for Hosea because Gomer had been a prostitute.

As we read more of the book of Hosea, we find out that after they were married, she had children by other men. She had gone back to her old ways even after she and Hosea were married.

Hos 2:5 For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

Even with all that Gomer put him through, Hosea still loved her very much. To paraphrase, she slipped back into the old part of her life to do what she had formerly done. She became a harlot again after being married and had children by some of those she slept with.

Can a greater love be shown to anyone? Hosea cared for the children of Gomer, even though he did not sire them. She was out drinking and partying while he was cooking, cleaning and putting clothes on her children. Through it all, he never complained or gave up.

Hos 2:8 For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.

Gomer hadn't realized that Hosea had given her so much that she had longed for and went back to. The most precious thing he gave her was love. His love for her was unconditional and complete. Nothing could keep him from loving her. Even as she had sex with so many strangers, he still loved her.

Hos 3:2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Hosea ended up having to buy her at a slave auction. I can imagine her sitting on the slave table and many around her poking her with sticks and making fun of her, her clothes tattered and ripped, bruised and beaten she may have even been completely naked. Hosea bought her and had every right to kill her on the spot. She was already his by marriage.Hosea still loved her and told her, I have come to take you home.

His love for her is unheard of in this day and time we live. It is a love that Gomer had never known before and didn't realize that he had for her, until this time.

The same love that Hosea had for Gomer, God has for us also. We have played the harlot as Gomer did. We have strayed from the One who loves us more than anything else in this world. It is for this cause that Jesus died for us. Hosea gave everything he had to buy Gomer back and take her home with him. God has done the same,. He gave everything to buy us back from the one who had us bound.

When Jesus died on the cross, He said, "It is finished." Every sin was paid for and every person redeemed. He came to take us home. He does not force anyone to come home but leaves the decision to us. It is by choice that we come to Him. He made the provisions for everyone.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.