Love In A Broken Vessel by Andrews Mesu

Author:Andrews, Mesu [Andrews, Mesu]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781441240675
Google: k4D3m4jU_T0C
Goodreads: 17617410
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 2013-02-28T13:00:00+00:00

Hosea left Jezzy dozing in Yuval’s arms, his heart heavy, his emotions raw at the thought of his wife in another man’s arms. He stood in the light drizzle of winter rains, staring into his empty courtyard. Gomer had gone inside.

What should I do now, Yahweh?

He could march into the house and confront his wife, demanding to know every detail. Would she tell him? She’d deceived him since she’d become his wife. Even if she confided every detail, he knew at this point it would be meant to wound him.

No. He would not look to the one who broke his heart to heal it—not when she was still broken.

Jonah. Perhaps he’d heard from Yahweh on Hosea’s behalf. The Lord often used his old teacher as a personal mouthpiece.

Hosea knocked on the door, swiping his wet hair out of his face. The rain had soaked him.

“Master Hosea?” Micah answered but slipped outside, closing the door behind him. “Master Jonah is sleeping. He’s been especially weak today. Is there something I can help you with?”

Hosea’s heart plummeted. “No, Micah. Just take good care of our teacher. Keep him well.” He clapped the boy’s shoulders and tried to appear the strong, resourceful teacher Micah thought him to be. The young man went inside and closed the door, and Hosea stood alone again, longing for Jonah’s wisdom.

Yahweh, please! What do I do now? Amos is traveling. Jonah is ill. It’s me. Only me. I don’t know what to do, what to say, how to proceed.

Silence. Rain pattered on the rocky path. Distant thunder rolled. Silence again. The camp was quiet. The workday finished. People wandered home.

Hosea walked—and remembered.

The day he and Gomer had heard Amos’s prophesy in the Bethel temple. She’d fallen from the rafters, and he’d been so afraid of losing her. He’d begged Abba Beeri to take her with them to Amos’s farm, but Diblaim had refused Beeri’s offer of an early betrothal agreement. Hosea understood now—it was because Diblaim planned to use Gomer’s beauty for his future political gain. Why, Yahweh? Why allow such horrible things in Gomer’s life? The gentle rain was His answer.

Hosea waved at a passing shepherd who was herding his sheep toward the folds. One of the camp women walked by wearing a new veil—blue, like Gomer’s. His heart squeezed in his chest as he remembered the day he’d first seen Gomer in Samaria—in her harlot garb and gold jewelry at Jeroboam’s temple, her eyes so full of lust and hate. Later that night, her broken body lying motionless in the brothel, he’d wanted to hold her and never let her go. He thought bringing her here to the prophets’ camp would heal her wounds.

His stomach rolled. All he could see now was the unfaithful wife waiting in his home. Yahweh, I see only her betrayal. The little girl at Bethel, the woman I fell in love with—they’ve been swallowed up by all the pain this wife of mine has inflicted.

The rain changed to great sheets, and the wind blew it in waves.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.