Want to Cry?

Then read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers; it's a story based on the book of Hosea, in which God instructs Hosea to marry an unfaithful wife; a harlot.

Thank you Lauren and Allyson for your raving reviews--I stopped by the library before leaving for Texas and managed to snag the book! I actually can't believe I haven't read it sooner...usually I'm not a huge fan of Christian novels but this one is most definitely an exception.

The entire book is so personal, because Hosea is an allegory for God's relentless pursuit of unfaithful people (Israel) and furthermore, me.  I haven't finished reading it yet, and I'd like to write some more thoughts on it at a later point but here is one of my favorite quotes so far:

"She was so tightly wrapped in herself, her own misery and dark thoughts, that she was blind to everything else. Especially him."

It breaks my heart to see her believe the lies that come into her mind, to refuse to trust the kindest person she has ever met and to live in a state of such defiance and rebellion. The times when I want to just write her off as stupid and ungrateful, I have to remember, Eimile, this is you; this is how Israel treated God and this is how you treat God. And that is when the tears begin to fall.

 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness ,and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope."

Hosea 2:14-15