Observation

This question was also less popular among the candidates. The performance to this question was average. Some candidates were familiar with this storyline of how Hosea was made to marry Gomer the prostitute which was a symbol of her Israel was unfaithful to God. Candidates were expected to give these additional points.
i. God asked Hosea to take for himself a woman of harlotry for the land had committed harlotry by forsaking the Lord.
ii. Hosea then married Gomer and had three children with her.
iii. He gave the children symbolic names to serve as warnings to Israel.
iv. The first son was named Jezreel to mark the place where Jehu carried out his bloodshed.
v. It was a sign that Yahweh would punish the household of Jehu for his bloodshed.
vi. The second, a daughter was named ‘Not Pitied’ implying that God would no longer have pity on Israel.
vii. The third, a son, was called ‘Not My People’
viii. This means that God had broken His covenant relationship with Israel.
ix. Initially, there was love between Hosea and Gomer
x. Later, Gomer proved unfaithful by going after other men.
xi. Gomer’s unfaithfulness meant that she had rejected the relationship of openness and spontaneity.
xii. Hosea divorced her, and her harlotry made her end up in slavery.
xiii. Despite her disloyalty, Hosea was prepared to take her back and forgive her.


In the part b, candidates were able to highlight the required points as they drew their answers from contemporary issues surrounding the ills of divorces in the society. Other points expected in the part B are;

i. Poor education of children.
ii. Increase in teenage pregnancy
iii. Early parenting
iv. Streetism/homelessness
v. Occultism/cultism
vi. Cyber crime
vii. Use of hard drugs
viii. Mental illness/depression.
ix. Suicide