God asked Hosea to do something hard. As a prophet, Hosea would serve as a living parable for a rebellious Israel. God told him to marry a woman who would be unfaithful. She would betray him in the most debased ways, choosing a life of prostitution over life with Hosea.

Hosea's wife treated Hosea like God's wife treated God. God had married himself to Israel, but they had chosen unfaithfulness instead. His people were like an unfaithful bride, marrying themselves to the false gods of surrounding lands.

But God said to Hosea, "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. In that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Ba'al'" (Hosea 3:14, 16).

They had played the harlot. They had cheated on God with the false god, Baal. But God's incredible heart is lovelier than our wayward ones. When competition arose, though he was hurt by their disloyalty and lack of love, God pursued his people. Relentlessly, he fought for them.

And he fights for us. He wants the entire you. He works to bring you to the place where you will say, "God is my good husband, my God. He is the only one worth serving. I am devoted to him."