Watchman’s Daily Devotional: When We Are Reduced to Shame by Our Sinful Nature, God Comes and Redeems Us

In a time of great turmoil for Israel, the Lord instructed Hosea to marry a woman of unfaithfulness. She brought forth three blessings into the world and then set out on a journey to seek new relationships. Each one fell further into a state of want than the one before. Hosea embarked on a heartfelt journey to seek her out. He provided her beloved with the resources to acquire what she required (Hosea 2:5, 8).

She attributed those blessings to her lover, unaware that it was Hosea who had truly bestowed them. Her beloved may have considered Hosea to be naive. Truly, love engages in actions that may seem unwise. Consider the deep sorrow that must have filled Hosea’s heart as he witnessed her in the arms of another, expressing her thankfulness for the offerings she received. Can you perceive the deep sorrow in the divine heart as we chase after fleeting affections, accepting His blessings yet attributing them to worldly sources or our own strengths (James 4:4)?

At last, she found herself in a state of complete destitution, standing on the block, a symbol of her trials and tribulations. Hosea redeemed her. Now she must remain by his side and fulfill his wishes, yet the divine directive given to Hosea was to love her just as he himself was cherished by the Almighty. Even amidst the constraints of duty, Hosea proclaimed, “In the same way, I shall remain devoted to you.”

In moments when we feel the weight of our shortcomings, it is in those times that divine grace reaches out to restore us. It is a profound blessing to dedicate ourselves fully to His service. We are called to respond to His requests with complete devotion, for we have been redeemed by His sacrifice. The profound truth that often eludes our understanding is His declaration, “So will I also be to you.”

This is the greatest love story ever told. It’s about Jesus and you.

Hosea 3:3

³ And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.”