Thursday, February 27, 2020
Hosea 1: The Covenant Path
![path[1]](https://thenoontimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/path1.jpg?w=300&h=300)
I will save them by the Lord, their God; but I will not save them by war, by sword or bow, by horses or horsemen.
I am always struck by the deep sadness which permeates this prophecy and also by the intense loyalty which the prophet shows his harlot wife, Gomer. This is the same fidelity which God demonstrates to us, the same constancy to which we are all called, the same covenant we have entered into with Our God.
. . . for you are my people and I will be your God.
The good news about this prophecy is that we are told again that no matter how often or how far we stray, we may return. The tough part is that we must leave everything we have in order to follow this loyal, constant, ardent spouse. In Luke 5:1-11 we hear the familiar story we have heard so often – Jesus calls Simon Peter and his partners James and John, sons of Zebedee, to follow him. “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men”. When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. Jesus worked a miracle for these men – when they did as he told them, they suddenly hauled in a huge catch where previously there had been nothing. They recognized his divinity, left the things of this world and followed. Jesus works miracles for us constantly yet for the most part we are unwilling to leave all and follow. Do we act with constancy? Do we maintain our covenant promise or do we return to the straying path which seems so much easier and so much more fun to follow?
Hosea forgives Gomer countless times. Yet he maintains fidelity in the face of scandal and shame. He demonstrates fidelity to her through great cost to himself. He forgives. We too, are forgiven. We too, might forgive. We too, are called. We too, might follow.
We are asked to be faithful to our God and to God’s call, to the promise of fulfillment placed in us at our birth.
We are asked to follow the path less traveled, the road on which Christ accompanies us, the road with Christ as it destination.
We are asked to respond to the Spirit within, despite our inconstancy, our blundering and our misunderstanding.
We are asked to put all blaming and name-calling aside and we are asked to follow the covenant path of promise . . . for it is the only true path worth walking. It is the only path that can save. It is the only path that binds us in covenant love.
Image from: http://calebcompany.org/2012/09/gods-path-to-success/
First written on September 4, 2008. Revised and posted today as a Favorite.
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