Unit 14 • Session 2 Use Week of: Unit 14 • Session 2 Hosea, Prophet to Israel BIBLE PASSAGE: Hosea STORY POINT: God is faithful to His people even when they do not love Him. KEY PASSAGE: 2 Peter 3:9 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why should we obey God? We should obey God because He made us, He loves us, and His plans are good. INTRODUCE THE STORY TEACH THE STORY APPLY THE STORY (10–15 MINUTES) (25–30 MINUTES) (25–30 MINUTES) PAGE 92 PAGE 94 PAGE 100 Additional resources are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by- session help, visit MinistryGrid.com/gospelproject. Younger Kids Leader Guide 88 Unit 14 • Session 2 LEADER Bible Study Hosea was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel for at least forty years. God sent Hosea to tell Israel of God’s hatred toward sin and of His coming judgment. (See Hos. 4:1,6.) God also sent Hosea to bring a message of love—a love that never gives up. (See Hos. 11:7-9.) To get the message across to the Israelites, God used Hosea’s own life to show Israel what a never-gives-up kind of love looks like. Hosea obeyed God’s instructions to marry a prostitute. Hosea loved Gomer as his wife, 2 even though he knew she would not be faithful to him. Gomer gave birth to children who were conceived with other men. Can you imagine Hosea’s grief each time he realized his wife’s unfaithfulness? It would have been easier for Hosea to end his marriage covenant—to throw up his hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” Yet God’s people were no different than Gomer. They were spiritual adulterers. Their hearts chased after other lovers by loving and worshiping idols. It would have been easier for God to end the Mosaic covenant—to throw up His hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” But God’s love never gives up. God gave Hosea a love for his wife that compelled him to buy her back from the slave market after all she had done. In the same way, God sought after His unfaithful people even after all they had done. God paid a high price—the life of His Son, Jesus—to bring them back to Himself. Remember to present the story of Hosea in an age-appropriate way. God used Hosea’s unfaithful wife to show the people of Israel that they were unfaithful to Him. Even when God’s people worship false idols, He is ready to forgive those who turn back to Him. God’s love is deep, and it never gives up. He goes after His people and loves them back to Himself. The Northern Kingdom of Israel 89 The BIBLE Story Hosea, Prophet to Israel Bible Storytelling Tips Hosea • Draw people: God wanted to send a message to His people. So God gave Use stick figures instructions to the prophet Hosea. “Marry a woman who will not be to represent Hosea, Gomer, and their faithful to you,” God said. “Be a father to her children.” children—Jezreel, God was going to use Hosea’s life to show His Lo-ruhamah, and people in Israel what God’s love for them Lo-ammi. Write their names below each was like. Hosea’s wife would love figure. other men instead of Hosea, just • Use body like the people of Israel loved movement: Stand at one side of the and worshiped other gods room when telling instead of the one true God. about Gomer’s actions God was telling Hosea to and the other side do something very difficult. when addressing Israel’s actions. It is hard to love someone who doesn’t love you back! But Hosea obeyed God. He married a woman named Gomer. Gomer had three children: Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah (LOH-roo HA muh), and Lo- ammi (lo-AM igh). Each child’s name had an important meaning. Jezreel was the name of a city, so this name was warning to Israel that God was going to punish Israel. They would be defeated by their enemies. Lo-ruhamah, which means “No Mercy,” let Israel know that God was not going to show them mercy anymore. They would get the punishment their sin deserved. Younger Kids Leader Guide 90 Unit 14 • Session 2 Hosea, Prophet to Israel Lo-ammi, which means “Not My People,” told the Bible Storytelling Tips Hosea Israelites that they were no longer God’s people. They had broken their covenant to love and worship God. • Draw people: God wanted to send a message to His people. So God gave Gomer was not faithful to Hosea. She often ran away. Use stick figures instructions to the prophet Hosea. “Marry a woman who will not be In the same way, God’s people turned away from Him. to represent Hosea, Gomer, and their faithful to you,” God said. “Be a father to her children.” They worshiped false gods. God told Hosea to go after children—Jezreel, God was going to use Hosea’s life to show His his wife. So Hosea found Gomer and paid to get her Lo-ruhamah, and people in Israel what God’s love for them back. Lo-ammi. Write their names below each was like. Hosea’s wife would love “Stop being unfaithful,” Hosea said. Gomer had not figure. other men instead of Hosea, just loved her husband like a wife should, but Hosea loved • Use body like the people of Israel loved her anyway. God gave Hosea a love that would never give movement: Stand up. God wanted the people of Israel to understand that at one side of the and worshiped other gods room when telling instead of the one true God. they were like Gomer. The Israelites did not love God about Gomer’s actions God was telling Hosea to like they should, but God loved Israel anyway. and the other side do something very difficult. Hosea warned the Israelites that God was going to judge when addressing Israel’s actions. It is hard to love someone them for their sin. He pleaded with Israel to turn back to who doesn’t love you back! God. “Come, let us return to the Lord,” he said. “Let us But Hosea obeyed God. He strive to know the Lord.” married a woman named God was going to punish the people for turning away Gomer. from Him, but He would keep the promise He made to Gomer had three Abraham. Abraham’s family would be a big family, and one children: Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah day Jesus would come from Abraham’s family. Just like (LOH-roo HA muh), and Lo- Hosea paid a high price to get back his wife who did ammi (lo-AM igh). Each child’s not love him, God had a plan to get His people back no name had an important meaning. matter the cost. Jezreel was the name of a city, so this name was warning to Israel that God Christ Connection: God used Hosea’s unfaithful wife to was going to punish Israel. They would be show the people of Israel that they were unfaithful to Him. God defeated by their enemies. gave Hosea a deep love; Hosea was willing to buy back Gomer Lo-ruhamah, which means “No Mercy,” let Israel know that God even after all she had done. God’s love is deep, and it never was not going to show them mercy anymore. They would get the gives up. He goes after His people and paid a great price to get punishment their sin deserved. us back. The Northern Kingdom of Israel 91 INTRODUCE the Story SESSION TITLE: Hosea, Prophet to Israel BIBLE PASSAGE: Hosea STORY POINT: God is faithful to His people even when they do not love Him. KEY PASSAGE: 2 Peter 3:9 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why should we obey God? We should obey God because He made us, He loves us, and His plans are good. Welcome time Note: Be Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect sensitive to kids the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids from difficult connect to your group. Prompt kids to talk about a time backgrounds. If a kid discloses abuse they thought about running away from home. or neglect, always SAY • Sometimes when we are angry or hurt by our report to the families, we think about running away to escape proper authorities. our frustration or pain. Today we will learn about a woman who ran away from a loving husband to make sinful choices. How do you think her husband felt when she ran away? Activity page (5 minutes) • “Find the Pictures” Invite kids to complete the “Find the Pictures” activity page. activity page, Challenge the kids to search the picture to find the outlines 1 per kid • pencils or markers of items hidden in the picture. SAY • That picture shows a man named Hosea and his wife, Gomer. She doesn’t look very happy, does she? Hosea loved Gomer, but Gomer did not love Hosea the way a wife should love her husband. Today we will hear about how Hosea’s life provided a picture of God’s love for Israel. Younger Kids Leader Guide 92 Unit 14 • Session 2 Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: To and fro Stand at one side of the room. Instruct the kids to rush toward you if you say something good, or to rush away from you if you say something bad.