Love pays the price

When Hosea purchased back his wife Gomer in a slave auction, he paid the price for love. She had betrayed him for other lovers, and abandoned their home and family. Hosea, remember, is a pageant played out in human life. It is the story of a husband and a wife, Hosea and Gomer, the story of God and His people, Israel, and the story of you and me and countless other sinners who have run from the God who loves them. But love pursues, and love pays the price. Hosea bought back his wife for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. God bought you and me with the precious blood of His only Son Jesus Christ.

Can you imagine the scene of Gomer’s redemption? She is naked, and men are bidding on her like she is an animal. The auctioneer’s voice rings out “Sold!” and she is led to the man who paid the highest price. She lifts her head to see who her new master is, and she looks into the eyes of the husband she once loved, and betrayed. And all she sees in his eyes is...love. That’s the way it is with you and me. The world is bidding for us—pleasure, a good time, success, prosperity—the world is bidding for some right now. But the Father has bid Jesus’ shed blood in response, and there is no higher bid than that. Paul said it like this: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Love pays the price.