Item: Love in a Broken Vessel (Treasures of His Love Book #3)
Author: Fizzy Pop

Love in a Broken Vessel (Treasures of His Love Book #3) by Mesu Andrews
Published by Baker Books on March 1, 2013
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Historical, Fiction / Christian / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Historical / General
Pages: 448
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Hosea has been charged by God with a difficult task--marry a prostitute in order to show God's people the nature and depth of his love for Israel. When Hosea goes to Israel to proclaim God's message, the prostitute God tells him to marry turns out to be his childhood friend Gomer. He finds her broken and abused, unwilling to trust Hosea or his God. But when marrying Hosea becomes her only choice, Gomer does what she's good at--she survives. Can Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel heal Gomer's broken spirit?

With her potent combination of in-depth research and masterful storytelling, Mesu Andrews brings to life a complex and fascinating biblical story of the power of love and forgiveness in the face of utter betrayal.

Let’s be real for a minute. The story of Gomer and Hosea is not one you learn about in Sunday School, at least I didn’t. You may hear about the prophet Hosea in youth group but you aren’t going to study the story about a prostitute. That would be a fun one to explain to parents. But here’s the thing. I think it should be taught and addressed more. I mean maybe not the prostitute angle but the idea of redemption, no matter what you have done when you choose to really and truly believe and follow God. To give up other gods (and I don’t mean the gods of then but our own personal gods that we prioritize above all else). Of course back in my day (sound old yet? :D) Gomer brought to mind Gomer Pyle. It also harkens to someone who is a bit dense and maybe not belonging. Today I hear about gomers as an old people. Gomer, as a word has taken on other meanings but the word (outside pop culture) means to complete or bring to an end. And that’s an apt name for Gomer from the Bible.

People read Biblical fiction for a variety of reasons. The ancient history, the gripping stories, and to become closer to the stories and God that carry relevance to today. I think Biblical fiction can also be a fine line between staying true to the Biblical truths while also bring the people and places and stories to life. Very few do it well, Mesu Andrews is one of those. One I trust to remain as true to Bible as possible while bringing people to life we do not know and may only have a small glimpse of who they were. The sheer research involved – not a genre I could ever write but oh can I devour it in reading! – involved to ensure relevance. Especially when it may be covered in different places. I know I say this every time but I have yet to be disappointed 😀

I love the thread of love, God’s love, throughout the book. No matter who you are, what you’ve done, God will hold you accountable but he will always provide a path to redemption if you chose to walk it. It’s not always pretty, it’s not always easy, and it’s not always linear. Gomer is all of that. Her hurt from early childhood, her experiences as a temple prostitute, her inability to understand how God can use her, heal her, and bring her truly into his grace. The times she gets in her own way. Oh how do I relate to that. I am the biggest obstacle in my own success, in my own grace, and in my own relationships both heavenly and earthly. While prostitute is one path I’ve never walked I can completely relate to the struggles of Gomer and how she continued to always get in her own way with her family, her faith, and her society. Everyone is broken in some way. We have all struggled but the reality is that if we get out of our own way we can find the same outcome as Gomer.

About Mesu Andrews

MESU ANDREWS is a Christy Award-winning, best-selling author of biblical novels and devotional studies whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the Bible alive for readers. Her heritage as a “spiritual mutt” has given her a deep yearning to both understand and communicate biblical truths in powerful stories that touch the heart, challenge the mind, and transform lives. Mesu lives in Indiana with her husband Roy, where she stays connected with her readers through newsie emails, blog posts, and the social media we all love to hate. For more information, visit MesuAndrews.com.