Love in a Broken Vessel ~ Review

Love in a Broken Vessel
By Mesu Andrews

What if God told you to marry the last type of person you'd ever think of marrying?  Would you do it?  Would you marry a woman who had given her body to other men in the worship of false gods?  Would you think God was playing a trick on you?

 This is the message Hosea received from God.  But could he give his heart to a prostitute and love her as God loved the nation of Israel even though their love was rejected for the fleeting love of another?

Love in a Broken Vessel is a powerful and moving look at the power of God's love and even, in a way, the forgiveness of God.

Gomer, from a young age was forced into a life of selling her body for the pleasures of men under the guise of worship.  It is into this very environment that Hosea has come to warn the nation of Israel that the time of punishment was drawing nigh.  God was offering His chosen people a chance to return to Him and to give up their false worship.  But Hosea's words fell on deaf ears and hardened hearts.

But in addition to delivering God's warning Hosea is to also marry a prostitute.  Hosea's marriage to Gomer is to be a parallel to God's relationship with Israel.  How long can God love a people who refuse to worship or acknowledge Him?  How often can a husband be expected to forgive a wife who seeks out other men?  Does he accept the children of her unfaithfulness as his own?  Or will he reject her as she seemingly rejects him?

But God's love is true as is the love Hosea has for his wife.  God has redeemed His love through the blood of His Son.  Hosea is to redeem his wife but only after she has suffered for her unfaithfulness and can fully grasp the redeeming love that is again offered to her.

If you have ever read the book of Hosea you need to read Love in a Broken Vessel which is a story of unfailing love and redemption.  This is a moving story that will touch the heart of any sinner who has experienced the redeeming love of the Savior.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Be sure to check-out my interview with Mesu Andrews here.

Mesu Andrews and her husband, Roy, enjoyed fourteen years of pastoral ministry before moving to the Pacific Northwest to pursue the next step in God’s calling. They have two married daughters and live in Washington, where Mesu writes full time. The Andrews’ have a Rottweiler-pitbull named Bouzer, who keeps Mesu company while she enjoys her fireplace and hot coffee on rainy Northwest days. She loves movies, waterfalls, and travel.

Biblical fiction is her favorite genre to read and write. Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011), won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012), the Song of Solomon story, received a 4 ½ star rating from RT Reviews. And Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell), the story of Hosea and Gomer, is available now and received a 4 ½ star TOP PICK rating from RT Reviews. The Shadow of Jezebel is scheduled for release in March 2014.