Did some study on this and turns out I had it all wrong. Sounds like God is giving Hosea some sketchy instructions but the events between Hosea and Gomer were happening and God was instructing Hosea to pursue and free Gomer despite her lapse back into harlotry. The story is then used as a symbol of what Israel has done (Gomer) and what God will do, save them. Not sure why I had a hard time following that originally but now it's making sense.