Redemption's Love

Redemption’s Love:

The biblical concept of redemption is a powerful and beautiful thing. Despite what many of the “New Atheists” and secular humanists spew about the repulsive notion of vicarious redemption – deep down the human heart knows that it is beyond cure; it deeply and desperately longs and urns for reconciliation and redemption.

One of the greatest pictures of redemption in all of literature comes from the Bible’s story of Hosea and Gomer.  To understand the context of the story let’s quickly recap…

Despite being in the presence of God – PARADISE – and prior to sin’s entrance into, and corruption of, the world, humanity still managed to screw things up.  That choice came with consequences (shame, guilt, and death), but it also came with the hope of reconciliation, restoration, and redemption by God.

The redemptive plan takes tangible shape through the story of Abraham and God’s blessing in Genesis 12:3, “…through you all the peoples of the world will be blessed.” This blessing from God is a two-parter. The first part is that ‘through you’ means that Abraham’s offspring would carry this blessing forward from generation-to-generation. The second part is that ‘through you’ would also mean in the sense of Abraham’s hospitality and obedience toward God. God’s one blessing of redemption would continue to relentlessly advance in time and space as human history unfolds. The crux of redemption would always be a matter of one’s hospitality and obedience to God.

So we follow Abraham’s line from his son Isaac to his grandson Jacob – whom God later names Israel – and from Jacob/Israel we find (in Genesis 49:10) that the Serpent Crusher and humanity’s Redeemer (Shiloh, Messiah, Christ) will come from the line of Israel’s son, Judah.

During the nation of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, and prior to their entrance into Canaan (the Promised Land), we find out what God’s purpose for them was: “you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).  Their election as God’s ‘chosen people’ was not a designation of exclusivity regarding redemption, but rather of distinction  – as God’s blessing upon Abraham foretold – a participatory role of hospitality and obedience as priests (mediators) between God and all the other nations/peoples on earth, which would happen through their holiness, i.e. being set apart for God, rather than being ‘like’ all the nations around them.

Tragically, throughout their history Israel repeatedly and continually absorbed the sinful practices of the pagan nations around them rather than having a positive influence upon them – as God had ordained.  Following David’s kingship the nation violently fractured in two (North – Israel & South – Judah) amidst civil war.  Since we know that humanity’s Redeemer (Shiloh, Messiah, Christ) would come through the tribe of Judah one might expect God to simply wipe out the rebellious and spurious Northern kingdom of Israel, but instead we find God to be gracious, merciful, patient, and loving – yet again.

In the tragic final days of the Northern kingdom (c.722 BC) there are numerous murderous coup d’états’, increasing threat of foreign occupation looming large, civil unrest – all the things that God promised would happen if His “kingdom of priests” failed to dedicate themselves to God and fulfil their divinely ordained purpose – yet they continued their idolatrous ways and God continued to love them.

In the midst of ALL this craziness and chaos God sent Hosea with a profound and beautiful message of REDEMPTION, which Hosea would live-out in literal fashion with “an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness” (Hos 1:2).

God told Hosea to marry the adulteress, Gomer, so Hosea obeyed.

God told Hosea to tell the Israelites that they would punished for their perpetual idolatry and stubbornness, but eventually – following their realization and repentance – they would be restored and redeemed by God.

In Hosea chapter three God tells Hosea “Go, show your love to your beloved, despite her being an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD for the children of Israel…”

Gomer was not only Hosea’s wife by contract, but she was Hosea’s beloved.  She was an adulteress when he married her, and she magnified and continued her infidelity despite their marriage covenant and Hosea’s treasured love for her. Gomer’s actions consequently led to her becoming a slave.  Hosea owed her nothing but contempt for her infidelity, just as God owed the nation of Israel nothing but contempt for their perpetual infidelity and stubbornness.  Just as Hosea redeemed Gomer from slavery at a price – God promised to redeem Israel from their slavery at a price.

We are rebels and idolaters in the deepest recesses of our hearts.  We will dance and sing, but we will not yield at our core. We despise God for even suggesting the very notion of depravity and human ‘inability.’ We spit at the Cross of Jesus and resolve to make our own way back to the Garden of Eden – or better yet - a NEW garden bereft of opressive rules, restrictions, and limitations imposed by non-elected deity. "Our way" is one that rejects the offensiveness of Christ's vicarious atonement and redemption.

We, like Gomer, are bound by our impulses and desires that only further secure our chains. We, like Gomer, stand at the city gate enslaved by lust, desire, shame, guilt, and depravity - calling it "the NEW paradise"; meanwhile our loving LORD, like Hosea, offers payment for our release and redemption.  Hosea payed the price with silver and barley, but Jesus payed with Himself at the Cross.

The solution to humanity’s woe is quite obviously not for us to simply “make better choices” in life. The solution is the grace awakening, the recognition of our utter hopelessness and depravity that leads to repentance, which leads to redemption in Christ.

As Oswald Chambers notes, “Until a man gets there and sees there is no hope, the Cross of Jesus Christ is a farce to him…  I must get rid of the idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience – which of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!”

Just as God promised reconciliation and redemption for the nation of Israel – He promises the same for all of humanity:

Recognition of sin for what it is and our inability to resolve the problem.

Repentance – turning from independence in sin to dependence upon God.

Redemption through the Cross of Christ.

Reconciliation back into right relationship with God – our Creator.

May God bless you with His amazing grace for recognition, repentance, redemption, and reconciliation this Christmas season.

Blessings,

-Kevin