Men, can you imagine having to purchase your wife back from prostitution and adultery, and then being told not to have intimate relations with her for "many days"? This would have meant a long time, perhaps even years of time. That is what God called Hosea to do. He was told to buy Gomer back from sex, and then she was to abstain from relations with men, even with her husband.
Why would God make such a request? Sex was Gomer's sin. She was captivated with it. She never met a man she didn't like. Sin is a wonderful gift of life. God granted this act to His creation as a means to continue the creation. For mankind, He not only gave it to us as a means to continue life, but He made it rather fun! (Actually very fun!) But, in God's perfect plan, He said that this was to be reserved for marriage. In fact, I fully believe, and statistics support, that sex within a marriage is the most satisfying sex there is. God knows what He is doing.
When Hosea was called to buy his wife back from her life of sexual sin, God put a new restriction on her. He told her to stay away from sex completely. She couldn't handle the gift without abusing it.
What in your life would God say that you should no longer do, period? It may be okay for others, but God would rather you not do it at all, because you can't handle it. I am a political junkie at times. I love current events. The first thing I want to do in the morning is get the newspaper out of my paper box. There are times, however, like last week, when God seems to say, "Don't even read it this week!" When my love of the newspaper starts to take time from my love for Christ and my devotion life suffers because of it, it is time to put down the newspaper for "many days".
What about you? What do you do so much of that it consumes you and interferes with your commitment to Christ? Whatever it is, and I think if you are still long enough, God will reveal it, God may have you abstain from it for "many days". Ask Him and see!
