A New Dawn

Hosea: I will heal their defection. I will love them freely.

The quote above is from the end of the story of Hosea, and is the promise that God's love is not lost to his people in spite of their having turned from him. The rest of the story is about Hosea's marriage (at God's direction) to an unfaithful woman, and the frustration she encounters from her unfaithfulness. After a difficult time for the woman and an embarrassing time for Hosea God directs Hosea to go and take her back. He does so, and they spend another period of time in abstinence. The story doesn't really deliver the happy ending of a fruitful and faithful domestic life for the couple, but does hint that that is the promise for the future. The woman decides she was happier with her husband and the husband loves the wife in spite of her infidelity. The story compares Hosea's marriage to God's relationship with his chosen people. He gets angry with their bad behavior, and they suffer consequences, but he still loves them freely after they repent and humble themselves.