Hosea, Prophet to Israel
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Session 10 Session 10: Hosea, Prophet to Israel FOR THE Hosea, Prophet to Israel LEADER Hosea 1–14 Hosea shares a name with other biblical men. Hoshea was the original name of Joshua, the successor of Moses who led the nation into the promised land. Hoshea was also the last king to reign in Israel, the nation in which Hosea lived and to whom he prophesied. The name means “salvation,” and that was the message of hope Hosea brought. While Amos’ ministry in Israel was short-lived, it is evident from the first verse of Hosea that his ministry extended up until the final destruction of his homeland. It is likely that Hosea witnessed the destruction of Samaria in 722 BC and that he lived out the rest of his days in Judah under Hezekiah’s reign. Jeroboam II reigned in Israel from 790–750 BC during the absolute height of Israelite abundance. It was during this time that Amos had brought his message to highlight the coming disaster. Since Israel had ignored Amos, God also sent Hosea with an odd assignment—to show through his family what God intended for an unrepentant nation. God also intended to show that God did care for and love the people even when they did not love Him as they should. God instructed Hosea to marry a woman named Gomer, who would be unfaithful to Hosea, a clear parallel of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. The couple’s first son was to be named Jezreel. The name was associated with the site of a bloody battle led by Jehu. God’s message was that Israel’s power would end just as Jehu had demolished the city of Jezreel. The second child, a daughter, was named Lo-ruhamah, literally “no compassion,” because the Lord had no more compassion on Israel. The third child, a son, was named Lo-ammi, literally “not My people,” because God had claimed Israel, because of their disobedience, to not be His people. The pictures of Hosea’s family are intended to shed light on the plight of the nation. God intended these images to show His love for the nation and affect repentance that would bring His people back into fellowship with Him. Session 10: Hosea, Prophet to Israel © 2018 LifeWay 77 OVERVIEW SESSION FOCUS BIBLE PASSAGE: Hosea 1–14 MEMORY VERSE: Hosea 12:6 TEXT TRUTH: God loves His people even when they do not love Him as they should. CHRIST IN CONTEXT: The Book of Hosea reveals God’s covenant love for His people and provides a picture of redemption. Hosea bought back Gomer’s freedom. In a greater way, Jesus redeemed and bought the freedom of His people—the church—with His own life. GET STARTED TOOLS BIBLE STUDY TOOLS SMALL GROUP TOOLS (10 MINUTES) (35 MINUTES) (30 MINUTES) ¨ Bible Skills: “Hosea” ¨ Jump In: “Text Truth ¨ Explorer Guides: Bibles, (Books of the Bible Strips” (Poster Pack) Explorer Guides, pens Posters), “Divided ¨ Examine the Text: ¨ Move: tape, 12 coins Kingdom” (Poster Pack), “Northern and Southern ¨ Make: 2-by-22-inch Bibles Kingdom Map” (DVD- strips of paper, tape, pens ROM); “Hosea” (Books of ¨ Explore: large paper, the Bible Posters); “Hosea markers, Family Cards Emoticons,” “Christ in Context: Hosea,” and “Text Truth Strips” (Poster Pack); Bibles; “The Gospel” (enhanced CD) ¨ Video: Explore the Bible on Location video ¨ Memory Verse: “Hosea 12:6” and “Hosea Emoticons” (Poster Pack) ¨ Prayer: Family Cards NOTE: Downloadable versions of DVD items are available in the Digital Video Bundle. Downloadable versions of enhanced CD items are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. For free online training on how to lead a group, visit ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible. Explore the Bible: Older Kids 78 © 2018 LifeWay BIBLE STORY HOSEA, PROPHET TO ISRAEL TEXT CONNECTION Hosea 1–14 • Hosea lived in Israel and ministered there around the God loved the Israelites. He was faithful to them and always kept His same time as Amos. Hosea, however, had a long career covenant with them. But the Israelites did not always love God. They would as a prophet and was very worship false gods and ignore God’s law. They broke their covenant with likely still in Israel when God over and over and over again. Samaria was destroyed. Hosea, like many other God had a message for Israel that He wanted the prophet Hosea to give prophets, had a message of them. God wanted Israel to understand what they were doing, so He gave judgment that was tempered them a picture. God told Hosea to marry a woman named Gomer. Hosea with a message of hope for the faithful. loved Gomer. He cared for Gomer. Hosea and Gomer had three kids. But Gomer did not love Hosea. She left Hosea and her kids and went to find a • The story of the Book of new home. Hosea is a picture of God’s love for the people of Israel. God told Hosea, “Go find Gomer and bring her back home.” So Hosea did. God loved Israel no matter Gomer had gotten into trouble and Hosea had to pay people money so they what they did, and God loves would let Gomer go. Hosea loved Gomer no matter what she did. us just the same. Through Hosea’s life, God showed God wanted Israel to understand that they were like Gomer. They ran away that Israel’s wandering away from Him would continue to from God and His good plan for them. But each time they did, they ended be met with love from God. up in trouble. Sin has consequences. God didn’t want His people to be in trouble, but if they didn’t love and obey Him, there were consequences. • Love is sometimes difficult to give and receive. God was like Hosea, but even more amazing and loving than Hosea Genesis 37 helps us could ever be. God loved His people. That is why He warned them of the see that sometimes love consequences of their sin. between family members can be a difficult thing. No matter how many hurtful things the Israelites did, God still loved them. • Joseph had dreams which Even when the Israelites caused a lot of trouble, God still loved His people. he shared with his brothers. These dreams appeared One day, God would show Israel how strong and powerful His love was. to say that Joseph, their One day, He would send Jesus to rescue His people from their sin. younger brother, would one day be their ruler. Instead of rejoicing with Joseph, the KEY POINTS brothers were unhappy and sold Joseph into slavery. • God loved Israel. • Israel rejected God and worshiped false idols. • God sent Hosea to tell the people of Israel to repent of their sin and EXPLORE THE return to following Him. BIBLE AT HOME • Even when we sin, God loves us and wants us to repent. See the enhanced CD for additional family resources. Session 10: Hosea, Prophet to Israel © 2018 LifeWay 79 GET STARTED GET STARTED (10 MINUTES) TOOLS: BIBLE SKILLS • Bible Skills: “Hosea” • Allow volunteers to share the source of last week’s session (Amos). Ask (Books of the Bible Posters), someone else to explain what group of twelve books Amos comes from “Divided Kingdom” (Poster (the Minor Prophets) and where they will be found in the Bible (at the end Pack), Bibles of the Old Testament). • Explain that in the next four weeks, you will be considering prophets PREPARATION: whom God sent to three different nations. • Preview the map so that • Display the “Divided Kingdom” map. Allow the kids to examine the map you can quickly locate key and locate familiar places such as Jerusalem, Jericho, the Sea of Galilee, places. and so forth. TIPS: • Point out that after David and Solomon were kings, the northern half of • Keep in mind that Bible the nation split off to form their own kingdom, which they called Israel. geography can be less than The southern half came to be known as Judah. perfectly precise. A map in • Challenge the kids to examine the map and determine whether places a kid’s Bible might not be you name are in Israel (the north) or Judah (the south). Begin by naming completely the same as the Jerusalem, Bethel, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River. one provided. Explain this by • Encourage the kids to look in their Bibles for a similar map, helping them noting that the maps are the to locate other prominent locations that the map clearly identifies. product of careful scholars • Display the “Hosea” poster. Point out that Hosea was a prophet to Israel, who sometimes disagree. the Northern Kingdom, and is the subject of our study today. That is why archaeologists • Dismiss to Bible Study. dig to discover where and when people lived in certain areas. BIBLE SKILLS SPOTLIGHT • Pronounces most of the names of Bible people, places, and things mentioned in the Bible. • Uses other resources to enrich her Bible skills and knowledge (Bible dictionary, commentary, concordance, atlas, and digital sources) . Explore the Bible: Older Kids 80 © 2018 LifeWay BIBLE STUDY BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES) JUMP IN TOOLS: • Offer an enthusiastic greeting to a time of Bible Study. Remind the group • Jump In: “Text Truth Strips” that at present they are looking at the Minor Prophets, the final twelve (Poster Pack) books in the Old Testament. • Examine the Text: “Northern • Invite the group to play a quick game of Hosea Says. Explain that and Southern Kingdom this game is exactly like Simon Says except the rules are reversed. For Map” (DVD-ROM); “Hosea” example, if the instruction is “Hosea says weed the garden,” they should (Books of the Bible Posters); “Hosea Emoticons,” “Christ not.