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In the second chapter of Hosea we find
the remarkable story of how God called one of His prophets to marry
a woman called Gomer, warning him in advance that she would be
unfaithful to him.
Gomer is a symbol and reminder both
of the nation’s waywardness and of the Lord’s determination to do
something radical about it. By hedging her about with thorns, and
building a wall to keep her from straying, He did not make it
impossible for her to continue her self indulgence, but He certainly
made it a great deal harder!
From this story we can deduce that it
is perfectly permissible to pray for God to erect a “hedge of
thorns” around people who are running away – whether from the Lord,
their marriage, or from some other responsibility. There is no
“formula” involved, but we can pray that God will block the path of
those who are straying, and bring them back to Himself.
It is hard to think of a less
attractive calling, but since Gomer’s unfaithfulness is an allegory
of Israel’s spiritual infidelity, and we too live in a society that
has turned its back on God and embraced many false “lovers,” we can
pray along similar lines for our nation to reconsider its wrong
priorities.
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A Prayer for a
Prodigal
I spent time today with one
who used to walk with You,
whose love once spurred her on
to seek Your Kingdom first.
But now that faith has turned to ashes.
I see new passions stir among the embers,
awaiting only the spark
of some other master’s fire.
Lord, spare this once-fiery soul
from a third-rate role;
rekindle her soul’s desire,
to love and follow You. |
Ian Britton - freefoto.com |
