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Question: To what extent do men in Zimbabwe suffer in marriages just like Hosea? (25)
COMMENT OVERVIEW
–The above question might be challenging. The reader will realise that after reading this article the mind will be overcrowded by answers. Hosea is well known by so many students. The prophet was commissioned to marry a harlot. He used his life to deliver the message. His wife was Gomer, his three children had cryptic names. Hosea in his marriage suffered physically and spiritually. This include the following things; unfaithfulness, disrespect, loneliness, depression, reputation and social status.
In the ongoing article the writer will prove that men in Zimbabwe suffer like Hosea to a certain extent.
ANSWER
-Hosea married Gomer “a woman of loose morals”, she gave birth to the first born and the child was named “Jezreeel”.
However, the last two children of Hosea, is a moot among scholars whether they belonged to Hosea or not. Some are of the view that that Gomer went on to practice prostitution while she was with Hosea, hence, unfaithful to Hosea.This might have affected Hosea spiritually because of the behaviour of Gomer. In Zimbabwean context it is recorded that men suffer as a result of infidelity of their partners.
Sunday News, Masvingo Mirror, Southern Eye in May 2016 recorded the story of a Zimbabwean soldier who committed suicide after he discovered that his wife was unfaithful during his absenteeism. The story of Mathias Mhere is well known, social networks helped to broadcast the story. The story of Tafadzwa was also popular in the media recently. Therefore, this indicates that men in Zimbabwe suffer like Hosea due to infidelity of their partners.
-Hosea after divorcing Gomer, faced challenges.This is recorded in 2:5. This might be loneliness. One will understand that when Hosea divorced Gomer, it looked like it was a permanent divorce but Hosea went on to remarry Gomer. What led Hosea to think of remarrying Gomer? It could be as a result of loneliness, as such this indicates that Hosea suffered. In Zimbabwean context it is recorded that men experience loneliness especially when their marriages break down.
Here is a good example. In 2003-2009, in Victoria Falls prostitution was at its peak. As a result, the statistics proved that there were more divorces than engagements. To some point men being divorced by their wives. The divorced being left at home as maids, as a result they experience loneliness just like Hosea.This indicates that men in Zimbabwe suffer just like Hosea.
-Hosea experienced depression, this cannot be denied. Hosea in chapter 2 divorced Gomer. She went back to her former husbands. This is supported by Hosea 2:5-6. Some scholars believe that Gomer went on to her husbands who were richer than Hosea, this can be supported by Hosea 2:5 “For their mother . . . For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil . . .” The reason why Hosea went on to remarry her is because Hosea was angered by the enjoyment of Gomer and became jealous.
Jealousy cannot be separated with depression, it is beyond doubt that Hosea experienced depression. This might be supported by the fact that Hosea went on to punish Gomer for a while, chapter 3 will support this. In Zimbabwean context, it is recorded that men experience depression, as a result they execute or stab the new partners of the wife (Media records: such stories appearing almost daily in the Press. This will help you to understand the Zimbabwean context when the subject is concerned).
N.B There so many points which can be added. These may include social status and reputation.
THE HOWEVER PART
-In as much as men in Zimbabwe suffer just like Hosea, one will be totally short sighted if the writer ignoreS the other side of the coin. In the Zimbabwean context it has been recorded in the media that Zimbabwean men also suffer because of monetary issues (shortage of money in marriages). Bulawayo24.com, Sunday News, Chronicle in mid June 2016 recorded the story of man who was arrested for stealing as he claimed that he was divinely inspired. Chronicle between January and March 2016 recorded a story of 6 gangsters from Bulawayo who had a tendency of ambushing in people in Cowdray Park suburb searching for money. The local magistrate went on to sentence them 500+ combined years in prison. They are all suffering behind the bars. The origin of this being the monetary issues in marriages, therefore, this indicates that some of men in Zimbabwe don’t totally suffer like Hosea.
-NB: there are so many points which can be added — Infertility — verbal abuse — sexual Abuse
QUESTION DEMANDS
-SHOW THE EXTENT
-Witness Dingani is an author, columnist, cricketer. He is the founder of charity organisation “Dingani Charity Organisation” which was launched to transform the orphans and the vulnerable. He is also studying Theology and Religious Studies at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU). He can be contacted on his mobile number +2363777896159 or Facebook page Zimsec A level Divinity Questions and Answers with Witness Dingani.
derick.khumalo