Call Me "my Husband"

I will punish her for all those times
when she burned incense to her images of Baal,
when she put on her earrings and jewels
and went out to look for her lovers
but forgot all about me,”
says the Lord.

“But then I will win her back once again.
I will lead her into the desert
and speak tenderly to her there.
I will return her vineyards to her
and transform the Valley of Trouble[b] into a gateway of hope.
She will give herself to me there,
as she did long ago when she was young,
when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.
When that day comes,” says the Lord,
“you will call me ‘my husband’
instead of ‘my master.’[c]

O Israel, I will wipe the many names of Baal from your lips,
and you will never mention them again.
On that day I will make a covenant
with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky
and the animals that scurry along the ground
so they will not harm you.
I will remove all weapons of war from the land,
all swords and bows,
so you can live unafraid
in peace and safety.

I will make you my wife forever,
showing you righteousness and justice,
unfailing love and compassion.
I will be faithful to you and make you mine,
and you will finally know me as the Lord.
Hosea 2:13-20

A friend a couple years ago showed me this passage about the Lord "betrothing" us and being our husband. Since then I have always joked with my friends and sisters about what a perfect husband I have! While this is true, other parts of this passage are true also. We so wander off and "cheat" on the Lord. When we look to other things to fulfill us, to satisfy us. He alone can turn a "valley of trouble" into a doorway of Hope. He is so faithful even though we break His heart. I don't think we will ever fully comprehend this kind of Pure Love, here on earth. Knowing this is but a taste of it overwhelms me when I think about it.

(Photo by Christa @ HisImage)