God's Relentless Love: A Study of Hosea

by Sharla Fritz

God pursues you.

Think about it for a second: the Lord and Creator of all things pursues you. He wants to know you. He loves you. God pursues an intimate relationship with you, just like Hosea the prophet fiercely pursues Gomer. Join author Sharla Fritz as she invites you into her life and the ultimate love story—God’s pursuit of you—in God’s Relentless Love. Discover God’s real, unconditional love in this relatable, approachable Bible study.

Genres: Theology

216 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2020

About the author

Sharla Fritz has been described as an amazing eye-opening speaker and author. Her books Divine Directions, Measured by Grace, Enough for Now, Distracted, Waiting, and others have given thousands of women the tools to dig into Scripture and experience a transformation of their attitudes and heart. With light-hearted stories and thought-provoking applications, she makes Bible study fun and uplifting.


Sharla makes her home in the Chicago area where she is also a pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother, musician, and confirmed chocoholic. And if she isn’t sitting at her piano or computer, you might find her stalking fabulous fashion finds at the local resale shop.

Reviews

[Cheryl Bostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty years ago I read Francine Rivers’ remarkable novel Redeeming Love, with characters whose lives paralleled those in the book of Hosea. Ever since, the biblical story of unfaithful Gomer and her steadfast husband has intrigued, sobered, and inspired me.

So, when given an opportunity to read an advance copy of Sharla Fritz’s God’s Relentless Love: A Study of Hosea, I happily agreed.

Note: this book is an eight-lesson study of a book from the Bible’s Old Testament, in which the prophet Hosea, at God’s direction, marries the prostitute Gomer. Despite her adultery, Hosea pursues her, loves her, and brings her back to the home they share with their children.

To many, the prophet’s behavior sounds extreme, even incomprehensible. How could any man continue to treasure and adore a woman unapologetically prostituting herself? Why does he pursue, rescue, redeem and restore her, given her painful, blatant betrayal?

But then, why does God pursue, rescue, redeem, and restore us from ours?

As author Sharla Fritz works through the chapters of Hosea, she transcends centuries, drawing parallels between God’s faithfulness to idolatrous Israel, Hosea’s commitment to whoring Gomer, and—via a variety of contemporary illustrations—God’s relentless love of unfaithful you who are reading this and of idolatrous me who’s writing it.

Systematically, she guides readers away from scoffing at Hosea’s ridiculous devotion to his undeserving wife, and into a place of profound gratitude for his faithfulness, a place of recognition that without the relentless love of God that Hosea personifies, Gomer would be toast.

And so would we.

The author has structured the book so that you can plumb the depths of God’s love with a surface diver’s snorkel and fins, or engage with saturation diving gear that includes deep water patience and surrender. Spend enough time with this story, and you may find yourself in a hyperbaric chamber of grace, recovering from the bends of your own sin and shame and—at long last— learning to “Live like you’re loved.”

It’s a valuable, growth-inducing study. Groups or individuals working through these lessons will not emerge unchanged.

[Valerie Biberdorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Old Testament book of Hosea is a difficult part of God's Word to understand. Kudos to Sharla Fritz for taking on this project in her book "God's Relentless Love: A Study of Hosea". And I am so glad she did! Sharla unpacks the mysteries of Hosea in a very easy to understand form. The "love" stories she shares at the beginning of each chapter are a great lead in as she shows us how God's love for us is relentless. Sharla asks the questions that we might ask as we read through Hosea and leads us to the answers that are somewhat hidden in the language of this book. Using the words of God through the prophet Hosea, Sharla helps us to see how God calls us back to Him again and again. Sharla's writing is clear, warm and easy to comprehend. As someone who loves history, I appreciated that Sharla included in her book the history of the time that Hosea lived and was writing in. I learned a lot about Hosea and my own relationship with God as I read this book. I highly recommend Sharla's study of Hosea to anyone who wants to grow in their faith and knowledge of our relentless God!

[Donna Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Hosea paints a stunning portrait of how God pursues the drifter and redeems the broken. Throughout this superb study, Sharla skillfully reminds us how God never fails to extend His loving grace every time we go spiritually AWOL. Through journaling, Scripture memorization and honest insights, each chapter offers a fresh journey along antiquity's roads to demonstrate that we cannot outrun God or His affections. Sharla's study offered me much-needed space to dig deep into Scripture to discover once again that no matter how far I fall or how bad I mess up God welcomes wanderers with His relentless love.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book of Hosea tells the powerful story of God’s relentless love for his people, but it's a difficult book to study without guidance. Sharla Fritz is a wonderful guide! With clear language and relatable, real-life examples, Sharla leads readers through the story of Hosea’s marriage to the unfaithful Gomer, both providing the historical context and showing how it applies to our lives in the 21st century.

This Bible study is perfect for someone who has never studied Hosea, as Sharla does a great job at going through the text systematically and anticipating questions a first-time reader may have. At the same time, it’s great for someone who has studied Hosea but desires to go deeper. As a language nerd, one of my favorite parts of the book was when she would explain the meanings and symbolism of words or places that are hidden to the modern English-speaking reader.

Sharla makes what may have been a confusing, obscure book into a relatable part of Scripture that we can apply to our lives, and I recommend this study both to those who have never dared to read Hosea and those who have studied it and are hungry for more.

[Afton Rorvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've done several of Sharla's Bible studies and so appreciate the way she weaves together modern-day stories, historic background, and carefully-worded, thoughtful questions that help me apply the words from the Bible to my life. And I love her sense of humor that pokes through the pages of her books.
Sharla brings the complex and confounding Book of Hosea to life in the pages of God's Relentless Love. What a great message for our broken world! We have a God who pursues us in love.

[Deb]

Nice bible study!! You will wonder why Hosea isn't studied as much after you're done with this book. I especially liked the musical suggestions at the end of each chapter's study questions.

[Ruth Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Sharla’s writing style and biblical insights, and this Bible study was no exception. However, I’m not crazy about the layout of this book. There’s a chapter for each week that reflects upon the reading more in a commentary sort of style than a Bible study. The Bible study guide is at the back of the book, so for each week the participant has to keep track of two separate pages in the book. Not a huge deal, but somewhat inconvenient. For the study guide, there are four sections for each week, but they aren’t all equal in terms of time needed to complete them. The first section is “Reflect on the Reading” and consists mainly of personal questions on your reaction to the reading (“How might you have responded in Hosea’s sandals?” for example). The section perhaps would be better for a small group Bible study to get discussion going, but I didn’t get much out of it. The real meat of the study for me were the next two sections, “Dig Into the Word” and “Apply the Word to Your Life.” That’s where we really got to make connections and dig deeper into the Scripture. The final section for each week was “Create a Project,” and again, I didn’t get a lot out of that one. Perhaps if I was working through it with a group we could have done said projects together, but that’s not really my thing when working through it by myself. For that reason, the study felt unbalanced to me. One day I was just reading the chapter (no questions), and the next few days I worked through the study guide for the week, but some days took 20 minutes while others took 5. This isn’t to say I didn’t like it, however. I found a few insights particularly poignant, especially those on “Yahweh’s Expressions of Love” in Chapter 6 regarding Hosea 11, both to the people of Hosea’s day and to us. Above all, this study reminds me of the great lengths to which God continues to go to call us to Himself.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal growth as a Christian in today's world is essential. Without it, we crumble like gravel underneath a heavy bulldozer. I was invited to read God's Relentless Love. I eagerly dove into the book, knowing the previous writings of Sharla Fritz. I was not disappointed. Like her other books, Sharla took a complex topic and brought it to the light of the present day. I gained a deeper understanding of God's Word, particularly the ancient book of Hosea.

Some of my favorite quotes: "Even when not facing a crisis, I may find myself turning to worldly sources for guidance and acceptance instead of to my omnipotent Father. My position at my workplace may determine my self-worth more than my position in the kingdom of God. It may seem more concrete to seek guidance from life coaches and financial advisers than to send up a prayer to a God I can't see. But although I sometimes need the wisdom of doctors, advisers, and counselors, I always need to remember that God's power to change my life dwarfs worldly sources of help."

And to encourage all to read this book: "Let's pursue a deeper knowledge of God because the better we know Him, the more we will recognize His constancy . He's as faithful as the daily event of the sun rising."

[Eden Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharla's writing style is engaging and insightful. She drew me in with personal stories, related them to the study of Hosea, and finished by showing the relevance to my daily life.

Hosea is a complex book in the Bible. I read the fiction novel "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers some years ago so was somewhat familiar with the story of Hosea and Gomer, but never understood the meaning behind the parallels of that story with God's relationship with His people (then and now).

Be prepared to be convicted, encouraged, and restored in your daily faith walk!

While this can be read as a personal study, I am planning to facilitate a group Bible study using it in 2021 also. It has study guide questions for each chapter in the back. Sharla also offers supplemental, short videos available on YouTube of a recent trip to Israel in which she shares additional information and footage of areas that enhance this study.

I highly recommend God's Relentless Love: A Study of Hosea.

[Jennifer Schwedler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Sharla Fritz's books and done the Bible studies with other women. Her writing is warm, sincere, vulnerable, well researched and clear. I have not met the author, but her honesty and sense of humor connect with the reader in such a way that one can't help but hope for a coffee date one day.

In God's Relentless Love, a study of Hosea, Sharla balances the Old Testament book's historical background and New Testament connections with contemporary stories, personal and relatable reflections, and thought provoking questions.

As both a reader and a study group leader, I think the format of this book (chapters 1-8 followed by study questions--including answers !--and end notes) is very flexible for self study as well as group studies. In fact, I am looking forward to introducing Hosea to many others through this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

To my human mind, the prophet Hosea has always seemed like a serious loser. His terrible choice in women and pattern of being a door mat left me wondering about his part in God’s plan. My experience with the writings of Hosea had been high level, reading-through-the-Bible contacts with truly little deep dive.
God’s Relentless Love took me to a whole new level. The author expertly guides the learner to a deeper understanding of culture and context. But the best value is her skill in connecting the story to God’s bigger purpose for his people. Using real accounts of contemporary relationships, readers have a new tools to apply these truths to our current reality. Was Hosea really a loser? Not at all. He was an obedient servant of God through and through.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my experience, theology books are often heady and tedious to read. Not so with God's Relentless Love. Fritz does a terrific job giving us the back story for this highly unusual, Old Testament book. Written in a warm, pastoral style, God's Relentless Love helps readers to grasp his passionate love for us and the lengths he goes to redirect our wayward affections. Though Hosea is ultimately encouraging, it's also a cautionary tale. And one that is very applicable for American Christians. The book includes brief bits of history, relevant passages from the Old and new Testament, and study questions at the end.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent Bible study with good information, stories, and even great questions in the back. However, I would have preferred if they had broken up the reading, and the questions each week so that one could easily have the week divided. I managed to do it in my own way, but that is one thing I wish I had known before I purchased. Otherwise, the research and the interpretation of of this chapter is well done. A hard chapter for some to understand, the author makes it easier, and you come away with a much better understanding of it, and ones relationship with God.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid 5 stars. This is the best Bible study I've done in a very long time. Sharla Fritz explains things so well and there are free accompanying short videos for each chapter on her YouTube channel. Homework is not too much but does it's job of digging deeper into Hosea and the rest of the Bible. You can read the book as a standalone and don't' necessarily have to do the study questions, but they can be done in an hour or so and make it that much better.

[Nicole Knutson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharla Fritz does a great job showing us how much God loved Hosea and Gomer. He never gave up on them, just like he will never give us on us. I felt like I was right there with Hosea as he went through some very hard times and still did what God asked him to. God’s love was relentless for Hosea & His love is relentless for us too.

[Carol Walther · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and loved all of Sharla's books. She has a way of conveying Biblical stories and teachings in a very relatable way. I love the Old Testament so was especially excited to see this study on the book of Hosea. Can't wait to use this book with my Bible study group at church. My group loves Sharla!

[Carole Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Women’s Ministry team at church selected this eight-lesson study as a post-COVID restart for Women’s Bible Study. God’s Relentless Love—how appropriate. Sharla’s lessons and resources guided us through the difficult scripture in Hosea and sparked a great deal of discussion. Highly recommend.

[Sheryl VerWey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharla leads us through Hosea and helps us to see the intensity of God's love for us.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting treatment of this Old Testament prophet's book of Hosea. Can spur excellent discussion of God's love for us.

[Twila Godinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Bible Study on the book of Hosea. Easy to read and very good content. Definitely something I will revist.

[Lisa Huettl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written study of Hosea.

[Nancy Pretty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! Doing this study with a great group of women! A great reminder of HIS relentless love for us, and how HE will always let us back into HIS loving arms and eternal kingdom.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this study. Hosea is a hard book and I’m not usually a “feeling” person but when going through this study and reading the book with the scripture opened up my mind to feel the words of Hosea rather than just read them. I have a greater understanding of God’s love and how relentless it is! Many of the images of how relentless God’s love is and how we do not deserve it had me in tears several times.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I joined several friends in a Bible study over the last couple of months. I have to admit, when I saw it was over the Book of Hosea, I was a bit nervous. It’s not a book of the Bible that comes to mind when you think of a Bible study. But, we dove in head first and it was hard at times, but I am glad I stuck with it.

The Book of Hosea chronicles God’s instructions to Israel over their betrayals. Israel is seeking other gods and other sources of help. They are committing sins and not repenting. The Book of Hosea is also about Hosea who marries Gomer and his devotion and relentless love towards her. Overall, I enjoyed this study, mostly because I met with some godly women whom I deeply respect and we had really great discussions. I learned a lot but this won’t be my favorite book of the Bible. If you’d like to read a fiction novel based on this book of the Bible, I recommend REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers. My favorite verse from Hosea is from 6:3

"Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6:3 NIV