The Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

Who was the biblical prophet ?

Most, if not all of our biblical prophets suffered for God 70 named prophets in the Old Testament, including 7 females There are also prophets in the New Testament, such as the prophet Agabus from Acts 21:10.

Prophets in the Bible were those called by God to represent Him to speak forth God’s Words or use other means to convey the will and heart of God (Hebrews 1:1). For example, Prophet Oded in 2 Chronicles 28.

Prophet Oded in 2 Chronicles 28 : In one battle, the army of Israel killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah. After their victory, the Israelite army proceeded to take captive 200,000 women and children and a great deal of plunder.

2 Chronicles 28:9b-10a “But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven. And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves.”

2 Chronicles 28:9b-10a “But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven. And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves.” God sent 1 single man, His prophet called Oded to convey His message. 1 single man against an army that just slaughtered 120,000 men and plundered 200,000 women, children and other treasures.

The 1 st miracle is Oded daring to obey God even in a very dangerous situation.

The 2 nd miracle is found from 2 Chronicles 28:14-15 “So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly. The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms, and returned to Samaria.”

When we dare to obey God even in difficult situations – our faith and courage creates a miracle.

If we obey God in sharing the Gospel, in helping others, we bring God’s life to them. And if they trust in Jesus, they also gain eternal life.

When we dare to obey God even in difficult situations – our faith and courage creates a miracle. If we obey God in sharing the Gospel, in helping others, we bring God’s life to them. And if they trust in Jesus, they also gain eternal life. Remember the 2 nd miracle in this biblical story – those you speak to might just believe it is God speaking to them and they respond obediently.

That’s what the prophets of God were – obey God no matter what (even at a sacrifice), and then trust Him to fulfill His will, perhaps even granting miracles.

Birth of Christ 450 BC800 BC Time of the 12 Minor Prophets Picture of Divided Kingdom

Picture of Assyrian Empire

Jonah (probably BC), made his journey to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians.

450 BC800 BC 1. Jonah ( BC) 2 & 3. Amos & Hosea (750BC) The first half of the 8 th century BC (799 – 750 BC) was a prosperous time for both Israel and Judah. Towards the first half of the 8 th century (750 BC), 2 prophets, Amos and Hosea appeared on the scene, denouncing the social injustice and idolatry that had swept over the economically prosperous, but morally and ethically bankrupt northern kingdom of Israel.

450 BC800 BC 1. Jonah 2 & 3. Amos & Hosea In the second half of the 8 th century, Micah had also warned that the southern kingdom of Judah would be destroyed if it followed in the moral footsteps of the north. 4. Micah ( BC)

450 BC800 BC 1. Jonah 2 & 3. Amos & Hosea Nahum, writing sometime between 663 and 612 BC, announced that the Lord would totally destroy Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. 4. Micah5. Nahum ( BC)

450 BC800 BC 1. Jonah 2 & 3. Amos & Hosea Under good King Josiah (640 – 609 BC), the nation even experienced a spiritual renewal, but it ended with his death. 4. Micah5. Nahum ( BC)

450 BC800 BC 1. Jonah 2 & 3. Amos & Hosea As the people of Judah went back into sin, towards the end of the 7 th century, Zephaniah warned of impending judgment on a worldwide scale that would include Judah and Jerusalem. 4. Micah5. Nahum 6 & 7. Zephaniah & Habakkuk (around 605BC)

At around the same time, the Lord informed Habakkuk that He would use the Babylonians as an instrument of judgment against His people.

450 BC800 BC 1. Jonah 2 & 3. Amos & Hosea Some time after the exile, Obadiah announced that the Lord will punish the Edomites and others who had participated in Jerusalem’s fall. But Obadiah also foresaw a day when the Lord would restore His people to the Promised Land. 4. Micah5. Nahum 6 & 7. Zephaniah & Habakkuk 8. Obadiah Exile / Fall of Jerusalem (586BC)

450 BC800 BC 1. Jonah 2 & 3. Amos & Hosea 4. Micah5. Nahum 6 & 7. Zephaniah & Habakkuk 8. Obadiah Exile / Fall of Jerusalem (586BC) The first stage of the restoration came in 582 BC, when the Persian ruler Cyrus, who had conquered the Babylonians the year before, decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland.

450 BC800 BC Exile / Fall of Jerusalem (586BC) 9 & 10. Haggai & Zechariah (515BC) God then raised up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people and their leaders. With renewed strength, assurance and vision, they completed the temple in 515 BC.

450 BC800 BC Exile / Fall of Jerusalem (586BC) 9 & 10. Haggai & Zechariah Some time later, the Lord called Joel and Malachi to address specific problems encountered by the post-exilic community and to remind the people of God’s promises. 11 & 12. Joel & Malachi

450 BC800 BC Exile / Fall of Jerusalem (586BC) Haggai & Zechariah Why did God sent the 12 prophets ? Why are the Minor Prophets important and useful to us today ? Joel & MalachiJonah Amos & Hosea MicahNahum Zephaniah & Habakkuk Obadiah

Because God spoke through them to His people Giving salvation and forgiveness to those in big trouble (Jonah). In the midst of economic prosperity, BEWARE of social injustice, idolatry and immorality (Hosea and Amos). Giving warning of judgment that must follow sin (consequences of reaping disaster if we had sowed in sin) (Nahum). But if there is repentance, God will sure grant His grace (Micah).

Because God spoke through them to His people If a new generation did not follow their parents’ faith, but go back to sin, beware of judgment (Zephaniah) – a lesson for us to faithfully pass our faith to our children and grandchildren. Why do God’s people suffer, even under unrighteous people ? Could it be a result of our own disobedience ? (Habbakuk) But God will not let those unrighteous people go unpunished, and He promises to bless His people once again (Obadiah)

Because God spoke through them to His people When there is trouble and opposition, the Lord will use His Word and His servants to encourage us, so that we might have renewed strength, assurance and vision (Haggai and Zechariah). Finally, the Lord will not leave us alone when we again encounter problems. He will guide us with wisdom and He promises to bless us and be with us. Let us simply be obedient to Him (Joel and Malachi).

The Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

Hosea 1:1-4, 6, 8-9 “ 1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel: 2 When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. …

6 Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. … 8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. 9 Then the LORD said, “Call him Lo- Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”

“ 4 I will not show my love to her children, because they are the children of adultery. 5 Their mother has been unfaithful and has conceived them in disgrace.” – Hosea 2:4-5

If God is all-powerful and loves us deeply, why do Christians suffer pain ?

“So, why is it, even though I am a child of Almighty God, sometimes I will feel pain ?”

1.If you are good, you will be rewarded; and if you are naughty, you will be punished. [For adults : this is the principle of “we reap what we sow” – Galatians 6:7; Hosea 8:7, 10:12].

1.If you are good, you will be rewarded; and if you are naughty, you will be punished. [For adults : this is the principle of “we reap what we sow” – Galatians 6:7; Hosea 8:7, 10:12].

1.If you are good, you will be rewarded; and if you are naughty, you will be punished. [For adults : this is the principle of “we reap what we sow” – Galatians 6:7; Hosea 8:7, 10:12].

“Well, the Bible says that God is slow to anger, so that means we should quickly ask God for forgiveness and ask Him to show His mercy and grace, so that we will not suffer the results of our bad actions.”

1.If you are good, you will be rewarded; and if you are naughty, you will be punished. [For adults : this is the principle of “we reap what we sow” – Galatians 6:7; Hosea 8:7, 10:12]. 2.Because some people choose to be bad, and they hurt us [for adults : this is a world under the bondage of sin, and we might be affected at times – Romans 8:20-21].

2.Because some people choose to be bad, and they hurt us [for adults : this is a world under the bondage of sin, and we might be affected at times – Romans 8:20-21]. Picture of Costa Concordia

Those who suffered – they didn’t do anything wrong to cause the accident. It was because of the wrong of the Captain and possibly his bosses.

We can pray regularly, asking God to deliver us from evil.

1.If you are good, you will be rewarded; and if you are naughty, you will be punished. [For adults : this is the principle of “we reap what we sow” – Galatians 6:7; Hosea 8:7, 10:12]. 2.Because some people choose to be bad, and they hurt us [for adults : this is a world under the bondage of sin, and we might be affected at times – Romans 8:20-21]. 3.Because God wants to prune us (make us stronger, and be more like Jesus) – perhaps some suffering will cause us to be more concerned about His will, about other people.

Why Do Christians Suffer ? 1.If you are good, you will be rewarded; and if you are naughty, you will be punished. [For adults : this is the principle of “we reap what we sow” – Galatians 6:7; Hosea 8:7, 10:12]. 2.Because some people choose to be bad, and they hurt us [for adults : this is a world under the bondage of sin, and we might be affected at times – Romans 8:20-21]. 3.Because God wants to prune us (make us stronger, and be more like Jesus) – perhaps some suffering will cause us to be more concerned about His will, about other people. 4.Because of God’s glory !! (the story in Hosea)

4.Because of God’s glory !! All this suffering (for Hosea), because God wanted His people to know how He felt for them – His disappointment and anger in Hosea 1 & 2, and then His mercy, love and forgiveness in chapter 2.

4.Because of God’s glory !! All this suffering (for Hosea), because God wanted His people to know how He felt for them – His disappointment and anger in Hosea 1 & 2, and then His mercy, love and forgiveness in chapter 2. None of us want trouble, but if trouble does hit us, then may we ask God for His sufficient grace, so that we can turn our pain into glory for Jesus.

4.Because of God’s glory !! All this suffering (for Hosea), because God wanted His people to know how He felt for them – His disappointment and anger in Hosea 1 & 2, and then His mercy, love and forgiveness in chapter 2. None of us want trouble, but if trouble does hit us, then may we ask God for His sufficient grace, so that we can turn our pain into glory for Jesus. But if you really don’t know why something bad has happened to you – then ask God to help you, heal you, and also turn your pain into glory for Jesus.

One more Truth from Hosea 1 – 2 Because of our persistent sin (even though we are already His people), God will feel very disappointed and even angry with us : Hosea 1:6b “Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, …” Hosea 1:8b “Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” Hosea 2:3b “I will make her like a desert, turn her into a parched land, and slay her with thirst.” Hosea 2:13a “ ‘I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; …but Me she forgot’, declares the Lord.”

Ms Ameneh Bahrami

“I think people like Majid will never become human with punishment and cruelty, but my kindness and forgiveness made him a human again.”

God forgave the people of Israel (us) so that they (we) can become human again. Become what God had created them (us) to be – a son or daughter of the Almighty. Doing righteous works, blessing others, glorifying Him.

Hosea 2:16 “In that day, declares the Lord, you will call Me ‘my husband’; …” Hosea 2:23b “I will show My love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people’, ‘You are My people”.

1.God loves us, and He will forgive us, but “Forgiveness is only useful if the one forgiven realizes it”.

2.Pray for your loved one / friend to realize the sins in their lives, so that they will appreciate God’s forgiveness and turn to Him. 3.What about you and I ? Do we know we have been forgiven ? Do we appreciate how much we have been forgiven ?

If so, don’t be ridden by guilt if you had done something you are ashamed of – go to Jesus. If so, forgive others. If you are truly worshipping at the feet of Jesus, don’t continue to be angry with another. Forgive him/her. Are there people in your lives you should forgive – in your family, your friends, here in church ? If so, accept the forgiveness by God, by your brother/sister. Do what you can to appreciate the forgiveness.

The Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.