when i read this:
A word of Jehovah that hath been unto Hosea, son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel:
The commencement of Jehovah's speaking by Hosea. And Jehovah saith unto Hosea, `Go, take to thee a woman of whoredoms, and children of whoredoms, for utterly go a-whoring doth the land from after Jehovah.'
(Hosea 1:1-2)
i understand it to mean that the Lord told Hosea to take a whore for a wife, and to also take her existing children into His household.
when i read this:
I have been inquired of by those who asked not,
I have been found by those who sought Me not, I have said,
'Behold Me, behold Me,' Unto a nation not calling in My name.
(Isaiah 65:1)
i understand that God has also taken out of us whoring Gentiles a people unto Himself.
& i confess my sin before Him, that i too am a man of unclean lips, hands and feet, who did not know how to seek God, but ran from Him, but He called to me, and put me in the hollow of His hand, against all logic, all reason, all justice -- for His mercy and His love are very great, greater than i can comprehend!!!