he stayed

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

There's an unusual little story in the Bible I fell in love with as a child: the journey of Hosea and Gomer. He's a prophet, she's a sex worker. It's not exactly Pretty Woman.

The story, as best as I remember it: God tells Hosea you needs to marry this chick I have for you. Hosea says ok, and goes to find Gomer. He pays 15 shekels of silver and 5 bushels of barley for her. They marry, and have three children. Gomer continues to take payment for sex with strangers, even sleeping with her father-in-law at one point. Hosea finds her every time, and takes her back home. As a couple, they ended up with five children, with it not really noted who was the father of the last two.

The story says it illustrates God's love for the church. It specifically, clearly says so.

Hosea could have left, any time. The patriarchal nature of the Before Common Era Middle East has been well documented. He bought a wife, he could have replaced her by all laws and rights. But he stayed.

Gomer slept with his father. Even in redneck society, divorce or murder would have been understood. She slept with whomever she wanted, whenever she wanted - even though her partner obviously was not ok with it. And took money for his betrayal. But he stayed.

At least two children who were not his lived with them, were loved and accepted as part of the core unit. There was no question Hosea loved Gomer. He found something in her beautiful and enchanting, something which fed his soul. Even though some part of her life before him called to some part of her, and she couldn't say no and stick with it. 

It made no sense. Hosea could find a partner more suited to his faith preferences, who was faithful and honest, who honored what Gomer - his wife - said she would do before God and their community. He didn't. But he stayed.

Not asking for Gomer to make up for her mistakes or hurts; not holding her to what her life had been, but hoping she would move into a different, healthier place; not becoming violent, angry, or even cursing God for what He chose; Hosea stayed.

And his choosing to makes it my favorite love story. In Hosea's frustration, the nights he was lying in bed with images of her arms, skin wrapped around someone else running through his head, kissing the top of one of might-be-might-not-be-his kids, he told Gomer she could be somewhere else in her life, if she wanted to.

It's not a pretty, convenient story. But so, so much better than being just another easy love story. Because he stayed.

Sacred Lent. Blessed journey.