"HOSEA"
(and the Gospel)
About the author: Keith A.
Johnson
Shortly
after being discharged from the Marine Corps in 1969, I returned to
A
week later, I took my wife to the doctor to have a D. & C.. While leaving the doctor’s office my wife
noticed my countenance change. She asked
me what I was thinking while I tried to brush off the thoughts that kept running
through my mind. She pressed me for the
answer, so finally I asked; “Can you honestly tell me that the baby was
mine?” She was quiet, while we walked to
the car and then she turned and looked at me and said, “I think so.” It was the first time I ever thought the word
“THINK” was a stupid word.
We
had an extremely difficult evening, but eventually I took her back because I
knew Hosea had to. Unfortunately, at a
mere 22 years of age, I hadn’t acquired the maturity that was required nor did
I know how to put the thoughts of her infidelity behind us. I could forgive, but during intimate moments
in the dark, she would feel the tears on my face.
I
asked her all of the typical selfish questions.
“What did I do to deserve this?” “How could you do this to me?” Eventually, she divorced me. Years later,
after spending hours and hours in the Love Chapter, the Lord woke me up and
shared this story with me. Half of me
laughed while the other half cried...if only I would have known what I knew
now; I could have saved our marriage. If
only my questions would have been, “You must really be hurting to have done
that to yourself. How can I be here for
you now, so we can get through this and allow the Lord to make all things work
together for good?” I give you...“Hosea and the Gospel.”
“HOSEA”
(and the Gospel)
(Intended for split-screen presentations.)
God: Hosea!
Hosea: Huh, did
somebody call my name?
God: Yes, Hosea!
It is I, the Lord God of
Hosea: (Bowing head)
Yes Lord, what is it that You want that You call upon
me, Your humble and unworthy servant?
God: I want you to
get married, Hosea.
Hosea: Oh, thank
you, Lord! I want that, too, for I am very lonely. Have you picked out somebody
for me?
God: Yes, Hosea, I
have somebody in particular for You.
Hosea: Oh, thank
You, Lord! I'll bet she's beautiful, right, Lord? I have pictured in my mind my Eve, or even David's Bathsheba – I'm not condoning David's
actions, You understand Lord, but from the records she must have been very
beautiful to tempt David like that. Boy,
wait 'til everybody sees my wife! I
can't wait! Everybody's eyes will just pop out of their heads, won't they,
Lord?
God: Yes that’s
probably a good way to put it.
Hosea: Will she be
like Isaac's wife, Rebecca? Boy, that was a match made in heaven. What a good wife Rebecca was!
God: Hosea, are
you finished rambling?
Hosea: Oh, sorry,
Lord, I'm just a little anxious. I've
been feeling pretty lonely lately...You know, but now – my time has come!
God: Hosea, I want
you to marry Gomer, the prostitute.
Hosea: Lord, did You say Gomer? That streetwalker in town?
God: That's right,
Hosea. Go and marry her.
Hosea: Lord, what
will the neighbors think? My reputation
is on the line here. I'm considered a prophet here in town.
God: Hosea, you’re
stalling.
Hosea: But, Lord…?!
God: Hosea, my
patience is being tried.
Hosea: Yes, Lord
(Leaves muttering under his breath.).
Narrator: Hosea marries
Gomer and brings her home, but in a very short time she has an affair and she gets
pregnant.
Hosea: Lord, Gomer
left and committed adultery and we have a child and I must admit that I'm a bit
skeptical whether he's mine or not.
God: Yes, I'm
aware of that. Did you treat her right
and love her? Did you do your part?
Hosea: Oh, yes,
Lord. I did exactly as You said. I went and married her, but You know a leopard can't change its spots. Can I stone her for the shame she brought on
me?
God: No. Go and get her and bring her back. Call her son Jezreel. It means "God sows" and suggests
growth and prosperity.
Hosea: Lord, if I
take her back, the neighbors will think I'm a fool and that I'm condoning her
actions.
God: Hosea, My
patience…
Hosea: Yes, Lord
(Leaves muttering under his breath.).
Narrator: Hosea goes
and brings her back but soon Gomer leaves and becomes pregnant again.
Hosea: Lord.
God: Yes, Hosea.
Hosea: Gomer is
pregnant again. I told her that I
forgave her, but her spots, Lord, she can't change her spots. Now can I stone her? You promised I could stone her, remember?
God: No. Go back
and get her.
Hosea: Again? But, Lord, the neighbors are laughing.
God: My patience…
Hosea: Yes, Lord
(Under his breath as he is leaving.).
His patience, …what about mine?
God: What, Hosea?
Hosea: I said, I hope this will be the last time.
Narrator: Hosea goes
and gets Gomer and this time she has a daughter.
God: Hosea.
Hosea: Yes, Lord.
God: Name the
child UNLOVED for I will no longer show love to the people of
Hosea: Lord, if I
name her that, the neighbors will suspect that these children aren't mine. Boy will they be talking then.
God: Hosea.
Hosea: Yes, Lord,
UNLOVED it is.
Narrator: Gomer has
another affair and gets pregnant again.
Hosea: Lord!
God: Yes, Hosea.
Hosea: Gomer's gone
and done it again. Three's the charm, right, Lord? Now I get to stone her, right? She's finally going to get what she
deserves, right? She's had enough
chances, hasn't she? She's finally
pushed "us" to the limit this time, right? You're fed up now, too, aren't you? (Pleading.)
God: No. Go back
and get her and name this child NOT MY PEOPLE.
Hosea: Lord, if I
name him NOT MY PEOPLE the neighbors will know that these children aren't
mine. I can't go into the market anymore
as it is without the neighbors pointing and laughing at me. How many times must I forgive…seven times?
God: Seventy times
seven.
Hosea: Four hundred
and ninety times? Lord, that's an awful
lot of affairs.
God: And then you
must forgive and forget each time.
Hosea: What, Lord?
That's one – zero, one – zero, one – zero.
I'll never get to four hundred and ninety. What happened to the stones? She knows better. She thinks I'm condoning her actions.
God: Hosea, if she
knew better, she wouldn't be doing it.
Don't you hear her cries for help?
She's crying out for love. Throw
her the life preserver of love when she's drowning in her ocean of
self-pity. Why is everybody so quick to
throw Satan's anchor of hate to a person in need? She's really hurting inside. She's looking for someone to love her. Someone who will overlook
her shortcomings. Somebody who will love her unconditionally. Only true love can heal her
"spots." Whom have you been
thinking of all these years?
Hosea: (Head down
and ashamed.) Myself, Lord.
God: Are you
guilty of judging a book by its cover?
Are you guilty of playing God? Only if you are perfect can you play God.
Are you? Are you guilty of selfishness?
Are you guilty of not loving her and have you reaped what you have sown?
Hosea: Lord, forgive
me, please. I was a fool. I am guilty of
not knowing how to love, for I was without mercy and compassion.
God: I forgive
you. Now go and throw the first stone.
Hosea: No, Lord. Gomer
was really fun to have around the house and she is very good with the
children. Plus...when she was home, she
kept the house clean and she has a pleasant personality. I guess you might say I've grown to really
love her. May I go and get her again?
God: If you want
to.
Hosea: Oh, Lord, I
do, I do! I was blind but now I see.
Thank you, Lord. Your wisdom is infinite.
Narrator: Hosea is
alone with Gomer:
Hosea: Gomer, will
you please come home again?
Gomer: No, Hosea. I've
hurt you enough. Even the people laugh at you.
Anyhow, you only come to get me because God makes you.
Hosea: Gomer, the
other times when I came to get you, it was because God sent me, but this time
I'm here because I want to be here. I'm
here because I was a fool. Please
forgive me Gomer, for my sins against you.
I didn't know any better. Now I know that I need you because I love
you. Please come home and be my wife.
Gomer: After all the
shame I brought you, you can stand there and say that you love me?
Hosea: Yes, Gomer,
you really didn't know what you were doing...
Gomer: Hosea, nobody
has ever loved me like you do. I feel so
undeserving. After all I've done to you and you can still stand there and say
that you love me. I promise I'll make it all up to you. You watch and see. They won't laugh at you in the streets
anymore. They will envy you. I was
blind, but now I see and no more will I ever betray your trust. You can now sleep and know that I will always
be faithful to you, never again to leave your side. Now, I can love you completely and trust you
and know deep inside that you really do love me and I...you. Hosea, you've been so patient with me (Two
stones fall to the ground from Hosea's clothing.). Thank you for caring and for never giving up
on me. I love you.
(Split-screen
ends and both actors reach out towards audience to embrace: they turn and face
each other and embrace.)
Narrator: Hosea and
Gomer look up and praise God.
God: Now you can
understand a small portion of the love that I have for you. For love is very patient and kind, always
forgiving and forgetting. Love is understanding the other person's needs.
(Note: Good time to sing 1 Corinthians 13)
By Keith A. Johnson