Ho, am I Gomer?

The Bible just called me a prostitute

When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods.”

- Hosea 1: 2

(italics and bold added)

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I’m finally back with another crazy title, but hopefully a timely message. It’s been such a crazy month and a half, I don’t even know where my wig is, y’all! But to see people still interreacting with my posts and even subscribing when I’ve been ghost—- I’m forever grateful.

I hope you all have been good and growing in your relationships with God and your lives.

Side note: I’m thinking of going live sometime this month. You guys have any topics you wanna hear me talk about??? Or we want just vibes???

Now, let’s get into why y’all are really here.

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When I finally came to the decision of what I wanted to name this substack, it felt perfect. It made since. Everything fell into it’s proper place. “falling in love with Jesus” was the perfect illustration of how I was going to romanticize my single season.

If I’m being honest, which I always aim to be with you all, I haven’t been falling in love with Jesus recently. I’ve been cheating on Jesus.

I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been doing my bookie butt so bad this past month and a half, but I have been. That’s why I’ve been gone. So distracted, so sinful, and not honoring God through my actions.

As I’m using this Lent season to come back into the arms of the best lover I’ve ever had, I would be lying if I said I hadn’t been beating myself up about all of my mistakes and missteps. It’s easy to know that God forgives you. It’s even harder to accept it sometimes.

ESPECIALLY when the Bible calls you a prostitute. But, believe me, we’ll get to that part.

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As I’ve said so many times before, when we read the Bible we can sometimes read it from a birds eye view, instead of actually putting ourselves into the texts. Especially when it comes to something we just know could never apply to us. Me, a prostitute? Oh baby, my momma didn’t raise me like that (no shade to any one who may fall in that category). NOT THIS WOMAN OF GOD.

me knowing the Bible isn't talking 'bout me in that language

Yea, let me go ahead and help that conviction set in, bookie.

Watch the break down:

Israel was God’s chosen people.

We are God’s chosen people

The Bible (more-so “The Law” the Israelites had at the time) helped show the people of Israel their sinful nature

The Bible helps show us our sinful nature

So if Israel acted like prostitutes, what that mean ‘bout me?

Make sense?

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You know I love to give a little background before I get into the tea frfr. So here we go:

God had a conversation with the prophet Hosea and told him to marry a prostitute named Gomer. Now if it was me, I personally would’ve told God I wasn’t going for all that. However, I admire Hosea’s obedience. God planned for Gomer to have children out of prostitution while being married to Hosea. While Gomer represented the people of Israel who gave themselves away to other gods and earthly desires, Hosea represents the faithful love and redemption that God was going to give his people despite them turning their back on Him (This is all covered in Hosea 1).

Now saints, you know what we have to do.

TURN WITH ME TO HOSEA CHAPTER 2

This chapter goes into specific detail on how Israel turned away from God. The part that sounded all too familiar to me started at verse 6.

For this reason (because Israel turned away) I will fence her in with thornbushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way. When she runs after her lovers she won’t be able to catch them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think ‘I might as well return to my husband for I was better off with him than I am now’. She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her everything she has— the grain, the new wine, the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. But she gave all my gifts to Baal.

- Hosea 2: 6-8

(italics, bold, and parenthesis added)

All I could think was “God, are you talking ‘bout me like that???”. Then I had to ask myself a very pivotal question:

Ho, am I Gomer???

the Bible telling me I am indeed Gomer

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I had been so proud of the journey I had been on with God over the past almost-year now. Getting baptized, practicing abstinence, being on FIRE for the Lord. Literally falling in love with Jesus. In a moment, it felt like all of that flew out the window with a swiftness.

Hearing that you’re a prostitute is hard. Realizing that you’re everything but someone who truly loves God more than anything else can feel like a shot to your little Christian heart. Instead of running from the bruise to my ego, I’m learning to lean into reflection.

I guess the right question isn’t “Ho, am I Gomer”, but “Ho, have you been pushing God off lately?”.

omg I might be Gomer

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I know that God understands that we will fall. A verse that God sent to comfort me in my low place is one that I think all of us should write deeply in our hearts:

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

-Proverbs 24:16

(italics and bold added)

When He brought me to the verse, it was right after I prayed and asked him, “God, what’s really important on this walk with you?” This was His answer.

Now, before anyone comes for me, lemme just say I am not advocating for sinning. I’m definitely not condoning it. I’m just trying to bring our attentions to our heart postures.

Even though you have fallen, Ho, are you trying to get back up again???

I know I am. I hope, wherever you are, that you are, too.

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God, I know you have seen us fall, but you’ve also seen our desires to get back up. The Bible says you know and examine our hearts. Show us what is truly in us, and help us to remove anything that is not of you. Thank you for continuing to love us and extend us grace.

In Jesus’s name,

Amen.

Revelation Reflection: What’s the hardest thing for you when it comes to having to get back up?

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Some Bonus Love: Currently on Repeat <3

I’m no longer living in shame

I’ve been redeemed

It would be an understatement

Just to say

You’re good to me