1. BIBLICAL PROPHETS - HOSEA -
God’s Love and Forgiveness
(Hosea 11-14)

2. Today’s Objectives Review key points from last week
Learn about how God loved the Israelites despite their sin
Find out how the Israelites’ repentance would lead to restoration
Sense God’s love and care for the Israelites
Revisit historical aspects that impact Hosea’s writings
Discover the message of hope from God

5. God’s Love for His Children (Hosea 11:1-11)
God’s tender care for the Israelites (vv. 1-4)
God the father and Israel the child
Led them from Egypt
God taught Israel to “walk” and eased their burden yet Israel was ungrateful
Israel’s future in the near term (vv. 5-7)
Predicts and invasion and captivity by the Assyrians
Warns that prayer is useless for Israel at this point
Israel’s future in the long term (vv 8-11)
Would not entirely destroy Israel and return Israel to the land
God would show compassion for Israel and for those who turn away from sin
Compare Matthew 2:13-15 with Hosea 11:1. Hosea 11:1 refers to a child called from Egypt. King Herod had feared that this new “king of the Jews” would usurp his power. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt, then returned when Herod died. What is the symbology here? Possibly that Jesus came to earth to fulfill the old covenant prophesy and establish the new covenant. To fulfill the old covenant, He had to succeed where Israel had failed. Thus, he took the place of Israel, in a way.
Hosea 11:8 – God would not entirely destroy Israel as he had done Admah and Zeboiim – cities destroyed along with Sodm and Gomorrah in Deut 29:23.

6. The People’s Disobedience to God (Hosea 11:12-12:6)
Return of a condemning tone
Israel, the main object
Judah, too, was included
God remained the faithful Holy one
Reference to Israel’s sins (lying, violence, appease)
Reference to Jacob, used as a symbol
Grasped Esau’s heel
Wrestling with the Angel of the Lord
His vision at Bethel
Tremendous message in vs. 6
Turn to God, maintain love and justice, wait for God always
Jacob, son of Isaac (brother of Ishmael) and Rebecca, brother of Esau, Grandson of Abraham)
Bought Esau’s birthright, used deception to get Isaac’s blessing.
Fled to Paddan Aram in the region of Haran on the upper Euphrates
Vision in Gen 28:11 about a stairway to heaven, in thy seed all the peoples of the earth shall be blessed. Reference the Kabaa in Mecca.
In Paddam Aram, Jacob worked for his uncle for the right to marry Laban’s daughter Rachel.
When he left Padam Aram, Jacob was involved in three important events:
1) Made a peace treaty with Laban
2) He wrestled with the Angel of the Lord (changed his name to Israel)
3) Reconciled with Esau
Settle in vicinity of Hebron
12 sons, one being Joseph, who rose to prominence in Egypt
Died in Egypt

7. Israel’s Attitude Toward Wealth and Spirituality (Hosea 11:12-12:14)
Combined justice with flawed spirituality
Dishonest attitude toward wealth
Dishonest in trade with other nations
Wrongly considered dishonest wealth as a sign of God’s blessing
Iniquity and vanity as heaps in the furrows of the fields
God is provoked to anger and is now determined that Israel must suffer the consequences

8. “I Will Be Thy King” (Hosea 13:1-16)
Fear of God leads to prosperity, but sin to ruin
Sin and punishment of Ephraim
Reminder of God’s favor
Punishment
Repent and be saved
Promise to raise his people from the dead
When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me. (vs. 6)
You asked for a king and I gave you one, then took him away (vs 10 KJV)
“I will be thy king” (vs 10 KJV)
In verse 13:2 we see “let the men that sacrifice kiss the calf” All Israel made Rehoboam king. However, the kingdom divided under Rehoboam because of taxation placed upon the tribes. The tribe of Judah and Benjamin stayed with Rehoboam. Jeroboam split and formed the northern kingdom of Israel and the 10 tribes. Since Jerusalem was in the southern Kingdom, Jeroboam decided he wanted to give the people something to worship in Dan and Bethel, two golden calves.
13:10 KJV I will be thy king: where [is any other] that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
Redemption from death 1 Cor 15:55 vs 14

9. A Final Message of Hope (Hosea 14:1-9)
Call to repentance (vv. 1-3)
Return to the Lord
Sincere prayer of repentance
Picture of restoration (vv. 4-8)
If people pray as Hosea describes
God would heal His people
Show love instead of wrath
Concluding challenge to the book’s readers (vs. 9)
If you are spiritually wise, you will have insight into the Lord’s teachings that make up this book and will follow them
Am I wise, am I discerning?

10. Review Review key points from last week
Learned about how God loved the Israelites despite their sin
Discovered how the Israelites’ repentance would lead to restoration
Sensed God’s love and care for the Israelites
Revisited historical aspects that impact Hosea’s writings
Discover the message of hope from God
Next week – Begin Isaiah