Free Love In A Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews Page B

finish.
    “I basically said Yahweh’s plan was wrong, and we were too righteous to obey it.”
    Remaining silent, Hosea measured his lifelong friendship against the protective love he felt for Gomer. Why must he forgive—again? “I love her, Isaiah. You’ve got to stop judging her. My love goes beyond obedience to Yahweh’s command. I don’t like what she’s done or who she’s become, and she’s not pure like Aya, but Yahweh has given me a love for Gomer. If you can’t respect Gomer, at least respect me enough to treat her kindly.”
    Isaiah nodded, extending his hand in truce. Hosea stood and embraced him, and Isaiah held tight, unwilling to let go. “Please, brother, let me search for her. I promise I’ll bring her back to you.”
    Hosea swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m afraid of where you might find her.”
    Jonah appeared at the doorway and nudged the young men apart. “I’ll wait here while both of you search for Gomer. Everything is ready to leave in the morning, so go.”
    Hosea kept his head bowed, unable to look at his teacher. “What if . . .”
    “Hosea, my son. Look at me.”
    Grudgingly, he lifted his gaze and saw the man’s soft heart in his eyes. “Go find your bride. I’ll stay here and pray for Yahweh’s favor. We’ll set out for Tekoa tomorrow as we planned.”
    Isaiah rested his hand on Hosea’s shoulder. “Come on. We must find her before dark.”
    They hurried out of the courtyard, turning west toward the temple. Surely she wouldn’t walk right into the lions’ den. Hosea’s logic warred with his emotions. Gomer knew the danger of being seen by anyone who could report to Menahem’s captain. And if anyone discovered she’d married the Yahweh prophet, King Jeroboam would humiliate all of them as he’d been humiliated when Hosea challenged him at the sacrifice.
    As they approached the temple, Hosea noticed a steady stream of people hurrying inside. He stopped one of the men and asked, “What’s happening? Is there another sacrifice?”
    “No, this is just the quickest way to the king’s audience chamber.” The man leaned close, whispering as if they were old friends sharing a secret. “I heard the elders at the gate passed judgment on a prostitute, but when King Jeroboam found out which prostitute was on trial, he wanted a piece of the action.” The man nudged Hosea with his elbow. “Know what I mean?” He hurried away, clearly amused.
    Hosea lost all sense of time and space. He needn’t take another step or hear a witness to know it was Gomer. “The elders at the gate passed judgment on a prostitute,” the man had said. Hosea knew she’d been wearing her veil when she left, which meant she must have returned to prostitution and been accused as a married woman committing the crime. His stomach lurched, and he bent over to steady himself. He felt Isaiah’s hand on his back.
    “What is it?”
    Hosea took deep breaths until he could stand and then met Isaiah’s gaze. Cowardice overtook him. He turned without a word, starting back to their house. He would tell Jonah—andleave for Tekoa. Isaiah didn’t need to know Gomer had returned to her harlotry. He’d hate her forever. But why do I care? I hate her too! He let one foot fall in front of the other, plodding aimlessly. Hopelessly.
    “Hosea! Stop!” A strong hand gripped his shoulder, nearly pulling him to the ground.
    Staggering, he caught himself, and his anger erupted. “Get your hands off me, Isaiah! We’re going back to get Jonah, and we’re leaving Samaria tonight! I’m done. Finished.”
    All color drained from his friend’s face. “So Yahweh didn’t speak to you? He didn’t tell you to marry this prostitute and have children with her? This whole journey has been a lie?” The accusation in his voice slapped Hosea from his self-pity.
    “Yahweh did speak to me. I mean . . .” But how could it be true if Gomer had returned to prostitution? Perhaps he’d been mistaken and Yahweh