Minor Prophets

1.1.1. Sands on the seashore? What does this phrasing remind you of? (Gen 22:17)

1. This is a separate covenant that God made with Abraham
   
   1. God ALWAYS upholds His end of the deal
      
2. God made a separate covenant with Israel at Mt. Sianai
   
   1. Israel broke this one :(
      

1.1.2. Israel will be reunited under one leader.

1. It will be like the glory days again.
   
   1. Who is this? (It’s Jesus)
      

1.1.3. Great day of Jezreel. is an example of God’s unending mercy. There was a significant amount of bloodshed that happened there. Jezreel means God will sow.

1.1.4. Descendants of Israel of course refers not just to those of Jewish heritage, but will include all the Gentiles through the faith.

1.1.5. Read Romans 9:14 - 26

1. Note that Paul quotes Hosea in verse 26.
   
2. Takeaway, God is just. The people of Israel deserved the destruction they agreed to in their covenant.
   
3. However, God is abounding in mercy. He always tries to show mercy to his chosen.
   
4. That is us. Remember we don’t deserve mercy, but God shows it anyway. Pay it forward.
   

1.2.1. On the surface.

1. We see Hosea tell his children to rebuke their mother.
   
2. She is breaking her marriage vows. She also is selling her body for material things, and giving credit to her lovers for providing all she needs.
   
3. Hosea is threatening to publicy shame her, throw her out, and strip her of her posessions.
   
4. I.E. if you don’t act like a wife, I won’t act like a husband.
   

1.2.2. Hosea is like God here. God loves his people but that doesn’t mean he’s going to just ignore their idolatry and sin.

1.2.3. Israel is giving credit for the rain, harvets of fruit and olives, and abundant livestock to Baal, instead of God.

1.2.4. Ask a question - Who are the children in this metaphor?

1. We are the children. The Lord’s faithful. Our job is to call out and rebuke sin!
   

1.2.5. Second question. Is it loving to call someone out? Emphasize that in today’s time, we’re generaly criticized for being ’hateful’ and intolerant. Is this true?

1. Is it more loving to let someone destroy their lungs smoking? (No they will likely get cancer)
   
2. Is it more loving to pretend you don’t see your friend shoplifting? (No, one day they may get caught and face jail time)
   
3. etc
   

1.2.6. God calls us out on our sin rather than ignoring it. How is that loving? (Because our sin separates us from Him. Which is terrible)

1.3.1. What’s the metaphor?

1. Israel is going to be taken off into captivity.
   
   1. And they will not be able to take their false gods with them.
      
   2. God had good reason to tell them to tear down Ashera poles and destroy temples.
      
2. Luke 15:17 - The prodigal son reflects that his fathers servants were better off than he was.
   
3. They will realize that things were better off before. In Caanan, and even in the wilderness.
   

1.3.2. How does this relate to us?

1. Sometimes sins have their bitter consequences. God doesn’t always rescue us from the consequences, because they turn us back to him
   
2. We don’t often bow down to idols, so what are some examples and their consequences:
   
   1. Cheat on homework, you’ll fail the exam.
      
   2. Skip out on home practice for sports, you’ll embarass yourself on the field.
      

1.4.1. Deuteronomy 8:10 -11 Moses warns the Israelites that they’re about to inherit a very good land. It may become easy to forget that it’s not them or the land but god who provides it.

1.4.2. In typical human religious fashion, peple are supposed to do something for god and in return he does something for them.

1. This is the parallel to Gomer taking lovers to earn her rewards
   

1.4.3. Of course we know where all these goods really came from (They come from God)

1.4.4. 2 Kings 17:25 - After Israel was taking into captivity God withdrew is blessings. Lions came up and attacked the invading people.

1.4.5. Takeaway: It’s sometimes easier to remember and be faithful to God in times of trouble. In times of plenty, it can be easy to lose sight of God.

1. Which situation are you in right now?
   
2. Do you credit God for your blessings, yourself, or something else?
   

1.5.1. Verse 16. Interesting note, Baal worship had become so prevalent that people would call God My Baal. (Baal meaning master)

1.5.2. Valley of Anchor - Anchor means disaster.

1. It’s where Achan (Joshua 7) as stoned after stealing goods from Jericho.
   
2. It represented trouble as a result of disobedience, and God looks to transform something like that into a symbol of Israel’s deliverance.
   

1.5.3. God shows an illustration of a husband ’winning back’ his unfaithful wife.

1. God doesn’t just demand it
   
2. He meets the people where they’re at
   
3. He is always looking forward to when we repent.
   

1.5.4. Takeaway: God is just, but is always joyfully looking forward to when we return to Him.

1.6.1. Sin has caused disharmony

1. Between man and nature (Ask for examples)
   
2. Between other humans (Ask for examples: War, injustice, violence, etc)
   
3. Between man and God (Examples: )
   

1.6.2. God will bring an end to all this disharmony one day( Judgement day )

1.7.1. God represents a reversal of Israels fortunes by renaming his children

1.7.2. Gos promises Israel better fortunes in a physical sense:

1. Should we expect the same for us (No, Jesus is not an earthly king. His blessings are spiritual)
   
2. God will still provide, but he does not promise to make us rich.
   

1.8.1. Apparently if a man’s wife leaves him and marries another, according to old testament law (Deuteronomy 24:1-5)

1.8.2. But God illustrates love again by showing how He is willing to be unreasonably faithful.

1. He not only takes them back but continues to provide for them during thier unfaithfulnesses
   

1.8.3. Hosea purchases Gomer back. What parallel does this draw? (Jesus purchasing us back from the devil)

1.8.4. In verse 4 what is being said?

1. The Israelites will be unable to sacrifice at all. TO either God or Baal.
   
2. Now they can’t partake in worshiping the true God. Why might He do this?
   
   1. To demonstrate the true nature of worshiping Him.
      
   2. It’s about your heart, not the sacrifices or even your own good works.
      
   3. God saves freely regardless of what we do to try and ’earn it’