Hosea was a pastor. His life connected deeply to integrity, honor, truth, and high morality. His wife was a call girl which has nothing to do with a phone. Hosea married a ho…hmmmm that kinda goes together…Hosea…ho…. What’s more God commanded Hosea to marry the….you know.

They had children together. This had to be very special to the pastor dude in a macabre sense. He loved her, tolerated her, and yet adored the 3 children they had together. My son Dan looks like me. His son Carson resembles him. Therefore, Carson looks like me. I feel attachment to the little guy. I think the world of my son. I love my family. I think Hosea was torn.

Then, Hosea’s ho walks out of his life to check into a HOtel with another man. Crushed is an understatement for the pastor.

Then in Hosea 3 God speaks to the pastor and tells him to go and love his wife though she commits adultery with other lovers. Hosea HOnors God by purchasing his wife from her pimp.

Hosea takes her home, puts her in proximity to their children. He watches her walk through the home, guilty as sin. Did you know an adulteress was to be killed in that culture? She sleeps in his bed, she eats his food. This was wrong on so many levels.

Each time he looked in his children’s faces he could see her image in them. I am not sure words can fully describe this dysfunctional home.

But if you look close enough you can see the image of God emerging from this crazy family. God seeks…he pursues us when we betray Him…He forgives our sins…. A beautiful word weaves its way through this account…Hesed. It means a love that endures, cares for, is loyal to another. God is love the Bible says….I fear this word cannot convey the depth and wonder of what he feels for us and what he chooses to do in pursuit of our heart.

Today…you are pursued…treasured…cared for. Read this great book and you will see the God who wipes the HOrrible makeup of the oldest profession on the planet from our faces, he brings us tenderly to the home of his heart, he makes a place for us with an amazing family he calls the church.

Recently a young woman in her 20’s came up to me after a church service. She told me her name, thanked me for a wonderful church service, and declared how thankful she was that Jesus bought her from a life of prostitution and drugs.

She is so young, so beloved by God, I see healing touch her heart. This morning I greeted her and she was amazed that I remembered her name. Are you kidding? God has your name written on his hand Isaiah says. She matters, your heart matters, whatever you have done, whatever you have become, he pursues you. Love is only the beginning. For everyone who has betrayed or belittled the greatness of God…you are welcome to come home.