Book of hosea, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, considered as one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Popular christian fiction books goodreads share book. A retelling of the biblical love story of gomer and hosea, set against the romantic backdrop of the california gold rush. The evangelical christian publishers association awarded redeeming love the ecpa gold book award, an award that recognizes books that have sold. Seeking a resolution, their leader stuart sean astin shares the story of the prophet hosea. Hosea his name meaning to save, salvation is the first of the socalled minor prophets.
Redeeming love, by francine rivers is a historical romance novel set in the gold rush in california. And the lord said to hosea, go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms. The prophet hosea personally records his messages to gods people and to the world. The story of the unfailing redemptive love of god sam a. Its a contemporary retelling of the story of the prophet hosea and his wife in the old testament of the bible. This beloved book retells the biblical love story of gomer and hosea against the exciting backdrop of the california gold rush. How to catch a cowboy in cowboys dont have a secret romance sweet her last billionaire boyfriend. I did a summer book club and this was one of the books we read and discussed. Anyone who reads the book of hosea will be impressed by hosea s conception of the deity. This is a quite accurate fictionalized account of the book of hosea. Horrible christian fiction, kidnapping and sex trafficking edition. According to the traditional order of most hebrew bibles, it is the first of the twelve minor prophets.
Unforgettable love story set during the california gold. Set in california during the goldmining rush of the 1850s, it tells the story of angel, a young girl sold into prostitution. Posts about christian fiction written by victoria phelps. The story is inspired by the book of hosea from the bible. Soon afterwards, while studying the book of hosea, the author heard god say. Like the book of amos, the book of hosea is addressed to the people of the northern kingdom israel.
Readers ask me all the time what books id recommend for women who want to grow deeper with jesus. The book reveals the personality of the prophet, an emotional man who in a moment could swing from violent anger to the deepest tenderness. Our theme read in the unapologetic romance readers group for the month of may was christian romance, and redeeming love was actually my nomination. Its a love story based on the story of hosea set in the gold mining times of 1850. Large print, christian fiction historical, christian. Nov 01, 20 hoseas book is the first of the minor prophetsthe last 12 books of the old testament. These messages came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Angel learns how to survive by denying her own emotions, that is until michael arrives one day to rescue her. Hosea chapter 1 kjv king james version 1 the word of the lord that came unto hosea, the son of beeri, in the days of uzziah, jotham, ahaz, and hezekiah, kings of judah, and in the days of jeroboam the son of joash, king of israel 2 the beginning of the word of the lord by hosea. Hosea with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Unforgettable love story set during the california gold rush. Thus stuart rightly points out, understanding the message of the book of hosea depends upon understanding the sinai covenant. The book of hosea is one of the minor prophet books of the old testament. These twelve prophets are comprised in one single book in the hebrew bible and are called the twelve.
Liz curtis higgs, bestselling author of thorn in my heart my heart and soul were profoundly shaken as i realized anew the lessons portrayed through the stories of hosea and gomer, michael and angel. Throughout the book, the prophet speaks to the people of israel about the critical situation that developed during the. The book contains a series of blessings and curses announced for israel by god through hosea. As an account full of harsh judgment unfolds, we find in its midst a rare and pure gem. The book of hoseaits a deeply personal and passionate love story, yet its a difficult story. Francine rivers is one of the leading authors of womens christian fiction. In this twelvesession lifeguide bible study, dale and sandy larsen lead you through the fascinating old testament story of hosea, youll see how a godly mans unfailing love for his wayward wife illustrates gods unconditional, noholdsbarred love for you, too. It is also foundational to understanding the problems hosea will deal with in his book. This novel is biblically accurate and spiritually profound.
Biblical fiction makes up only a small slice of the category of christian fiction, but vicki. So, when hosea lists these kings at the beginning of his book, i think it is more than a way to place the chronological occurrence of his book. This book is based off the love story from the bible of hosea and gomer. Family fiction is the most comprehensive christian fiction resource providing news, interviews, and information about books, movies, and authors. Karen witemeyer, cba bestselling author of christian historical romance. According to the superscription, hosea began his prophetic activity during the reign of jeroboam ii c. Francine rivers is a name that gets bandied around a lot, not just in the christian fiction groups, but also in the historical romance groups in general. Book of hosea, also spelled osee, the first of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, considered as one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Its their struggle she finds it hard to turn away from the life she has always known and basically born into. The book of hosea was written in the northern kingdom of israel in the eighth century bc, during the reign of jeroboam ii 786746 bc. She believes that in the past, a lot of christian fiction avoided dealing with gritty. When an outsider, ashley, unexpectedly joins steve, carrie, cooper, and gameboy, the materialistic and selfinvolved young womans bad attitude leads to a confrontation with carrie. Its fourteen chapters contain both a warning concerning future events and an interpretation of these events meanings.
Book of hosea overview insight for living ministries. Good reads christian fiction blogs by christian women. For amos, as well as for most of his predecessors, yahweh is conceived primarily as a god of justice. Redeeming love by francine rivers goodreads share book. The lord said to me, go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. But of course the real story of this book isnt the story of hosea and gomer, its the story of god and israel. This retelling of the biblical story of gomer and hosea set during the time of the california gold rush is now considered by many to be a classic work of christian fiction. The book is clearly written by hosea during the days jeroboam ii king of israel. The book of hosea is a deeply personal and passionate love story, yet its a difficult story. Will the powerful tale of love help heal the girls resentment. Linda rondeau rondeau is the author of several novels in the christian fiction and christian romance genres, including fiddlers song, the other side of darkness, a fathers prayer, miracle on maple street, the fifteenth article, and a. Hosea was commanded by god to take a wife named gomer who was a known prostitute, as a demonstration of gods love for israel in spite of israels unfaithfulness.
Its central theme is to portray the redeeming love of god towards sinners. Hoseas love for gomer is only a picture of gods love for israel, because all the while that israel was unfaithful to god, he was providing for them. Even when you rebel, disobey or make a mistake, god continues to pursue you with a relentless love. Based on the book of hosea from the bible, where god told the prophet, hosea to marry the. A powerful retelling of the story of gomer and hosea, redeeming love is a lifechanging story of gods unconditional, redemptive, allconsuming love. Hosea, an oldtestament prophet, preached his own life message using his marriage as the sermon illustration. Steve, carrie, cooper, and gameboy are looking forward to their youth group trip. Hosea 3 niv bible the lord said to me, go, show your. Gomer is a prostitute and hosea is a godly man told to marry her. The word of the lord that came to hosea son of beeri during the reigns of uzziah, jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah, and during the reign of jeroboam son of jehoash king of israel. Israel is the lords bride, but israel has instead joined itself to. He was a towering intellectual figure, a popular fiction author who inspired a global.
Hoseas wife and children when the lord began to speak through hosea, the lord said to him, go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty. According to the traditional order of most hebrew bibles, it is the first of the twelve minor prophets set around the fall of the northern kingdom of israel, the book of hosea denounces the worship of gods other than yahweh, metaphorically comparing israels abandonment of yahweh to a. Israel is the lords bride, but israel has instead joined itself to baal, the false god worshiped in syriapalestine. Hosea bible study book lifeway christian resources. The prophets name means salvation, likely a reference to hoseas position in israel as a beacon of hope to those who would repent and turn to god because of his message. The books purpose is to illustrate spiritual adultery as well as faithfulness, forgiveness and. It tells the story of a very respected pastor who marries a prostitute, and suffers the consequences in both his private and professional life. Feb 6, 2012 unforgettable love story set during the california gold rush. He gave laws for his people to obey, and disobedience of these laws must inevitably bring punishment sufficient to atone for the wrongdoing.
It is a way to emphasize the spiritual climate in which he is ministering. Hosea began his mission in a period of prosperity, the last years of jeroboam ii 783743 b. Christian fiction african american, christian fiction. Hosea, a prophet from the northern kingdom, preached in his homeland, which he addresses as israel, jacob or, frequently, ephraim. Moreover, israel has repeatedly violated the terms of the law. Shortly after becoming a bornagain christian in 1986, francine wrote redeeming love as her statement of faith. Simply put, redeeming love is the most powerful work of fiction you will ever read. A man who seeks his fathers heart in everything, michael obeys gods call to marry angel and to love her unconditionally. The story of hosea and gomer comes alive in this intense, emotionally. Redeeming love is a beautiful love story based on the book of hosea.
A love story inspired by the book of hosea in the bible. So below ive compiled my top 20 mustread books for christian women today. Hoping to heal the rift, stuart shares the story of the old testament prophet hosea. It is a record of the prophecies of the prophet hosea to the northern kingdom of israel also called ephraim after its largest tribe in the 8th century bc. Hoseas heart by linda wood rondeau is the story of beaumont, joanna, their children, and friends. Redeeming love, by francine rivers is a historical romance novel set in the 1850s gold rush in california. My favorite fiction book of all time besides series like narnia, lotr. Box 551, greenville, alabama 36037 usa hosea, a prophet with an unfaithful wife hosea one in our bible the books of hosea through malachi are called minor prophets. Francine rivers this is what christian fiction should be wonderfully written, deep in social and. When god had a message for the people, he gave his message through the prophets. The ending of this book alone is unsatisfying without the sequel, but the ending of the sequel is perfect. The book of hosea is one of the books of the old testament, the first book of the minor prophets. In the book of hosea, in the old testament, god tells the prophet hosea to marry a prostitute, gomer. Love her as the lord loves the israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.
Hosea revealed little about his background, though his book of prophecy offers a few glimpses into his life. But when god tells michael hosea to marry her, she learns to loveuntil fear. But when a confrontation occurs between carrie and ashleya newcomer with a bad attitudethe spirit of fellowship is broken. Dec 05, 2018 like their counterparts in hoseas heart, hosea and gomer have three children, two sons and a daughter. Those are the questions that demand to be answered when you read what hosea was asked to do.
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