Love in a Broken Vessel

Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

Biblical Fiction

Love in a Broken Vessel is the fictionalized story of the biblical characters Hosea and Gomer. Prophet Hosea goes wherever God leads, and he proclaims whatever message God gives him—regardless of the danger. When God tells him that he must marry a harlot and love her as an example of God’s love to His people, Hosea sets out to do just that. While traveling in Israel, he’s shocked to discover that his childhood friend, Gomer, is a prostitute. Convinced she’s the one God intends him to pursue, he asks Gomer to marry him. Broken and abused, she has nowhere else to go. So, she returns with Hosea back to Tekoa, the camp in Judah where prophets are living together in community.

At first, Gomer’s heart is softened by Hosea’s love. But when Hosea continues to leave her alone for great lengths of time in order to do God’s work, she feels abandoned and hardens her heart.

Hosea is happy that Gomer finds joy in learning how to make pottery while he’s gone—it’s a way for her to keep busy and creative. But Gomer knows he would be devastated and angry if he knew she sought comfort in worshipping the goddess Asherah, so she hides that part of her life from him. As Gomer becomes more and more resentful of Hosea’s obedience to God, she repeatedly makes choices that test Hosea’s love and threaten to destroy their marriage.

Review . . .

Love in a Broken Vessel is a great example of how to write biblical fiction.

Vivid descriptions transport the reader back to the biblical times of prophets Hosea, Isaiah, and Jonah. Through the author’s in-depth research, we’re able to better understand the relationships that existed and the history that took place. Love in a Broken Vessel is rich with interesting biblical characters who played important roles in the lives of Hosea and Gomer.

These two childhood friends were separated when young, and they lived entirely different lives until God reunited them. Mesu Andrews does a wonderful job of putting the reader into the characters’ thoughts and feelings. I felt Gomer’s frustration and hurt at feeling abandoned, but I also agonized with Hosea each time Gomer betrayed him. Theirs is a story filled with fear, mistrust, rejection, and desperation—but it also holds abundant hope. The author shows through story how God used Hosea and Gomer’s relationship to teach His people about love and how much He cared for them. It’s also a lesson for us today.

Submitted by a Christian Editor Connection member.

Mesu Andrews is the author of Love Amid the Ashes and Love’s Sacred Song. Winner of the 2012 ECPA award for Best New Author, she is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God’s Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington. You may learn more by visiting her website.