The Prophet, The Prostitute, And The Greater Love

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. He did, and she ended up leaving him. Then God told Hosea, "Go again and love a woman who's loved by her husband." That's a paradox because he's her husband. If, as her husband, he already loves her, how can God tell him to love her? Ephesians says, "Husbands love your wives as Messiah loved the church." It also says, "Wives submit to your husbands as unto the Lord." It doesn't say love as you would love, or submit as you want to submit. It says love as Messiah loves, and submit as you would to Messiah. That's the key: Hosea loved this woman as a husband would love, but by faith, he loved her again just as God loves Israel, His people and all people. The next time you say, "I can't love that person," remember that God didn't ask you to love as you love, but to love as He loves. The love of the Lord is beyond feeling. Love with a love that doesn't come from you, but, through you from the love of Him who loves - because that's who He is: Love.

From Message #819 - The Radical Love