Old Testament Questions and Answers
COMMENT OVERVIEW THE question above requires one to have deep knowledge concerning the impact of infidelity in the marriage of Hosea the prophet. The prophet Hosea married Gomer and they had three children which were given cryptic names. The two divorced due to a number of problems which will be discussed below. The question further requires one to give the extent to which infidelity is a problen in marriages in the Zimbabwean society. In Zimbabwean context newspapers such as Sunday News newspaper, Bulawayo24.com to mention a few have recorded various issues concerning marriages. This will be fully discussed on the ongoing discussion.
— The USA English dictionary defined the term infidelity as unfaithfulness in marriages. SUGGESTED ANSWERS The prophet Hosea married Gomer. It is prudent to remember that Gomer was a woman of loose morals as it is believed she was involved in prostitution, this has been evidenced in Hosea 1:2 (When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry, for the land commits great harlotry by forsaking the LORD.”). This has been further supported by B W Anderson, page 306, in his book, 4th edition entitled The Living World of Old Testament. Gomer is recorded to have been unfaithful to Hosea as she continued with her old behaviour.
The unfaithfulness led to divorce as it is recorded in Hosea 2:5 “For their mother has played the harlot; she that conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink’.” As such this indicates the cause of divorce in the marriage of Hosea.
In Zimbabwean context, various dirvoce issues have been recorded by local newspapers. A very good example is the story which was recorded by the Sunday News newspaper and Newsday which indicated that divorce cases were alarming. (Readers can follow the following links: <https://www. pressreader. com/ zimbabwe/ sunday- news- zimba bwe/20170205/281578060398390> and <https://www. newsday. co. zw/ 2015/ 07/ 21/ 1- 102- couples- registerfor-divorce-since-january/>
“According to the High Court records for January to July this year, a total of 820 couples approached the High Court in Harare seeking to have their marriages cancelled and 129 of them had their marriage certificates officially terminated”. The major cause of the above dirvoces being the infidelity. Very good examples have been discussed by Auntie Rhoda on Star FM Radio. All this indicates that infidelity causes divorces in the Zimbabwean context. Sis Noe also discusses various issues which lead to divorce and infidelity being one of the major causes. Readers can follow the following link (http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-Lifestyle-scRelationships.html). All this indicates that infidelity has been the cause of divorces.
In as much as it can be said that infidelity has led to the divorce in Zimbabwean context, one will be short sighted if the writer does not include the other side of the coin. It has been also recorded that divorces have been caused by physical and emotional abuse. An example was recorded by Bulawayo24.com, one can follow the following link for more information (http:// bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-local-byo-106395. html).
“The man she is claiming is her husband is mine. What happened is that we once had problems and he told me to go back to my parents. All this indicates the causes of divorces in Zimbabwean society.
NB: THERE ARE SO MANY POINTS WHICH CAN BE ADDED (a) Infertility (b) Verbal abuse (c) Sexual abuse
Witness Dingani is an author, columnist, youth coach, radio host and cricketer. He is the founder of charity organisation “Dingani Charity Organisation”. In 2016 he was nominated as the most influential youthful figures in Zimbabwe and being voted on the 8th position out of 15 people by the Pan-Zimbabwe society. In 2017, Witness Dingani co-authored the new book for Lower 6, entitled Understanding Family and Religious Studies. Questions by schools can be submitted through his mobile number +263777896159 or email address: witnessdingani@gmail.com. Readers can follow the Questions and Answers on Sunday News every week.
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