Hosea 1:1-3:5 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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The Children of Signs
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Memory Verse: 10-11
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Introduction
Outline
A MAP OF THE KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH
A MAP OF ASSYRIA
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS TIMELINE
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT ISRAEL'S HISTORY
A LIST OF ISRAEL'S KINGS AND PROPHETS

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A LIST OF BOOKS THAT ARE COMPLETED.

I. Time of Hosea's Call (1:1)

Hosea

* See a painting of Hosea viewing his wife talking to another man to the right.

>1. Who did the word of the Lord come to? (1)

* Hosea 1:1 "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:

* "The word of the LORD" -Divine law (the principles God established when he made the universe) has been revealed to mankind through seven mediums: nature (Psalms 19:1), conscience (Rom. 2:15), stone tablets (Exodus 24:12), Jesus the living Word (John 1:14), the entire scriptures (Rom. 15:4), on man's heart (Heb. 8:10), and Christian's as living epistles (2 Cor. 3:2-3). The word of the Lord that come to prophets is described this way, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21)

* "Hosea son of Beeri" -The only information we have about Hosea is found in this book. See the introduction for more information.

>When was his ministry?

* "during the reigns of" -The Lord knew the Israelites who entered the promised land would eventually reject him as their leader and ask for a king. So he said through Moses, "When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us," be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, "You are not to go back that way again." He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel." (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

* "Uzziah" -Uzziah (779-740 B.C.) was a godly king in his youth but became proud. He tried to burn incense in the alter, which only a priest could do. He immediately got leprosy and had to be confined to the palace. His son, Jotham reigned in his stead.

* "Jotham" -Jotham (740-736 B.C.) was the son and successor of Uzziah. Jotham is known as a godly king. When his father became a lepor because of sin Jotham acted as king in his stead. Thus Jotham's reign as king started in 750 B.C., ten years before his father died. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha. The sixteen-year period given for his reign may include the time that he acted as regent for his father, Uzziah. Jotham evidently was an effective ruler. His reign was marked by building projects, material prosperity, and military successes.

* "Ahaz" -Ahaz (736-728 B.C.) was not a godly king. Even from a human and historical point of view he was not a good king. Ahaz, whose name means "he has grasped," was the son and successor of Jotham as king of Judah and the father of Hezekiah. Ahaz participated in the most monstrous of idolatrous practices (2 Kings 16:3). Isaiah gave counsel to Ahaz during the Syro-Ephraimitic crisis, when Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, joined forces to attack Jerusalem. The prophet Obed rescued some captives from Israel (2 Chron. 15 and 28). Ahaz refused the prophet's advice and appealed for help to Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria (Isa. 7). That appeal and the resulting entanglement had unfortunate results religiously and politically in that Ahaz surrendered to Assyrian domination. He even placed an altar made from a Syrian model in the Temple (2 Kings 16:11). Ahaz suffered the final humiliation of not being buried in the royal tombs (2 Chron. 28:15).

* "Hezekiah" -Hezekiah (727-699 B.C.) was a godly king perhaps more than any other king of Judah and Israel including David. Hezekiah began his reign when he was twenty-five years old. At this time in history, the nation of Assyria had risen to power. Hezekiah's reign can best be understood against the background of Assyria's military activities during the years Hezekiah served as king of Judah. When Ahaz succeeded Jotham as king of Judah, he began pro-Assyrian policies by making Judah a vassal to Assyria. Ahaz's political involvements with Assyria brought idolatry and paganism into the Temple (2 Kings 16:7-20).

* "kings of Judah" -The kings after Jeroboam II are not listed. See introduction for more information.

* "during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel" -Jeroboam II (793-743 B.C.) was not a godly king. During Jeroboam's reign Israel (Samaria) was politically secure, spiritually smug, and seemed powerful. Moral decay and ethical corruption was rampant. Political anarchy followed Jeroboam's years of political stability. See introduction for more.

* Hosea is a book of judgment on Israel. Yet the book is remembered mostly for its vivid pictures of the love and grace of God pleading for Israel to return to him.

* Hosea was a prophet of the Lord from the time of Jeroboam, king of Israel to Assyria's attack on Israel's and just past Israel's fall, almost 40 years. This is in fitting to the last few DB from a time perspective.

Hosea was from Israel and prophecied about unfaithful Israel in chapter 1 and the first 13 verses of chapter 2. The Lord told Hosea to show Israel their adulterous ways though his marriage to a promiscuous woman and the names of his children.

Chapter 2:14 to the end is the Lord's promise to restore Israel "in that day" a term referring to Jesus's first and mostly second coming. The poetic words here are a love story being fulfilled in the church, made up of all nations as Israel was taken away into exile to all nations.

The marriage is the second coming of Jesus. Jesus's parables expound upon the love scene told through Hosea. "In that day I will make a covenant for them... I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will acknowledge the LORD." And, "I will say to those called 'not my people' , 'you are my people and they will say, 'You are my God.'"

The love of God shown through Jesus in these words to unfaithful Israel is a joy warming my soul. The unfaithful have hope for God is love. He is tender and kind.

II. Hosea's Wife (1:2-3)

>2. What did the Lord tell Hosea to do at the beginning of his ministry? (2)

* Hosea 1:2 "When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD."

* ""When the LORD began to speak through Hosea" -The Lord had a plan for Hosea's life before he called him.

* "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness" -Not an easy call. See note below.

* Before analyzing chapters 1-3 you will want to consider the various views held about Hosea's marriage to Gomer and, if possible, arrive at your own conclusions... Choose between the allegorical and historical interpretations of this marriage:
    Allegorical: The marriage and birth of children are allegory or parable (or dream, vision) intended to portray truths about Israel and God figuratively.
    Historical: The narrative is factual, intended to illustrate truths about Israel and God by way of symbols. The strong argument in favor of this view is that the Bible text reads naturally as historical narrative. This is the view I ascribe to.
After you have chosen one of the above interpretations, you will need to chose one of these four options concerning the story:
    a) When Hosea married Gomer, he knew she was already a harlot.
    b) When Hosea married Gomer, only God knew that she was already a harlot.
    c) When Hosea married Gomer, he knew that she would later become a harlot.
    d) When Hosea married Gomer, only God new that she would later become a harlot.
The first two options (a) and (b) are least likely, since they do not symbolize what was true about Israel's original relationship to God, namely, faithfulness. In this connection read Jeremiah 3:6-14 and note the three stages of Israel's relationship to God.
    1) Israel is originally faithful (Hosea 9:10)
    2) Backsliding Israel commits spiritual adultery.
    3) Israel is restored. (Irving L. Jensen, Minor Prophets of Israel -A Self-Study Guide)

* 2 Kings 9:1-10:11 for background to Hosea 1:4.

>What thoughts must have gone through Hosea's mind?

* Why me?

* Why such a hard mission?

* Why such a hard life to come?

* Would the Lord God really call me to a mission that is destine to fail? (Israel did not believe his message.)

* What will my family and neighbor's think?

>Did he obey? (3)

* Hosea 1:3 "So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son."

* "So he married" -Ancient cultures often practiced arranged marriages, including Israel and Judah. The parents would make arrangements for their children to marry someone from their culture and country. This was done before the children were officially adults. The age of adulthood in Israel and Judah was twelve. At this age the children were "betrothed" for one year, a contract of marriage without living together. (Ex. 22:16, Deut. 22:13-30, Matt. 1:18, Luke 1:27, 2:5) We are not told if Hosea was betrothed to Gomer or not.

* "Gomer" -Gomer means complete, enough, or burning coal.

* "Diblaim" -Diblaim means "two fig cakes". Diblaim was a parent of Gomer, Hosea's harlot wife. Some Bible students see Hosea's father-in-law so named; others, his mother-in-law. The latter case is combined with an understanding that she was also a harlot whose price was two fig cakes. Others would equate Diblaim with the place name Beth-diblathaim. The most direct explanation seems to be that Diblaim is Gomer's father, of whom nothing more is known. (Holman Bible Dictionary)

* "she conceived and bore him a son" -Apparently right away after marriage..

* Hosea obeyed the Lord. Some spiritual leaders bent on controlling the lives of those who are suppose to be under their care use verses like this to justify arranging marriages within their congregation. Nowhere does the Bible give leaders of any kind the right and direction to arrange marriages. However, parents arranging the marriage of their children is Biblical going back to the time of Abraham arranging for Isaac's marriage.

>3. Why was Hosea to do this?

* "the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD"

* The relationship the Lord had with Israel was a love relationship. He delivered them from bondage in Egypt, established them as a nation, and lead them to the promised land. They could reciprocate this love by obeying his commands. This they agreed to do.

* Meaningful and edifying love is reciprocal. Love reciprocated is a dynamic vibrant powerful experience. God gave a way for Adam and Eve to return his love. He told Adam to not eat from one of two trees in the center of the garden, implying doing so would betray his love. Adam and Eve could eat from the tree of life for doing so would enable their bodies to live forever. However, they could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He told them that if they were to eat from the second tree, leaving the loving relationship that they enjoyed with him and each other, it would not be good for them. He told them that without him they would die. (Gen. 2:16-17) (from "The Believer's Future - Hope that Inspires" found on this site)

* Israel was to reciprocate the Lord's love for them by keeping the commands of the covenant. The covenant at Mount Sinai was a marriage contract.

* Jesus' bride must return his love. We should not be like Adam and Eve in the Garden and the Israelites at Mt. Sinai who betrayed his love by worshiping the calf. We should love him. How should the bride return his love? Jesus tells us how to love him, "If you love me, you will obey what I command. " (John 14:15) He also said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:21) The relationship we have and will always have with Jesus is based on love. Jesus explains, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." (John 15:9-14) (from "The Believer's Future - Hope that Inspires" found on this site)

>What did he know would happen if Israel didn't repent?

* Amos 8:2 "What do you see, Amos?" he asked. "A basket of ripe fruit," I answered. Then the LORD said to me, "The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer."

* Hosea's mission was a very hard one. Amos had predicted the fall of Israel. It was for sure. Now he was called to be a prophet to the nation, his nation. Not only that heart breaking fact, but he was called to marry a wife who would be unfaithful in the end. His married life would reflect what the Lord went through with Israel. Through this he would gain an understanding of the heart of the Lord. Yet that does not mean it was easy to go through.

>What can be learned about a life of faith and obedience to the Lord?

* God our Father has given the church to be married to Jesus. (John 6:37-39) When Jesus came in the flesh two thousand years ago he and the church were betrothed; so that since that time when anyone, Jew or Gentile, accepts Jesus they are accepting his proposal and become betrothed to him, the same as the legal agreement was in ages past.

Jesus our bridegroom has left us to prepare a home for us. (John 14:2) He sanctified us by his word and blood. (John 17:17, 19, Heb. 9:13-14) John the Baptist, who came in the power of Elijah (Matt. 11:14) said he is one of the friends of the bridegroom. (John 3:29) Two witnesses are seen in Revelation 11 just before Jesus' comes again; one is expected to be in the power of Elijah and the other to be in the spirit of Moses. (Some believe it will actually be they.) The bride, members of His church, has gone through the ceremony of water immersion baptism. (John 1:25, 33) Soon Jesus will come to get his bride so that we can be married and live with him forever. At that time we will be dressed in the radiant white of God's glory, in gowns of white that he will give us. (Rev. 7:9, 22:14) At that time a canopy of smoke will be over Mount Zion where we will be brought to our bridegroom meeting him face to face. (Is. 4:5-6) At that time our bridegroom will give each one of his loved ones a precious rock that will have our name on it, a new name which only he and we will know. (Rev. 2:17) After the marriage ceremony of Jesus and his bride there will be a great banquet, the wedding feast of the Lamb. (Rev. 19:6-9) Until our bridegroom comes for us the bride is to keep ourselves pure and to take care of his business. (1 Thess. 5:13)

* The Lord leads his people. Nothing happens that he does not know about, period. Jesus said because the world hates him they will hate us. As we share the truth, the world hates us. Some may come to believe and will be strengthened through our obedience to the Lord. Still, a life of faith is easy. Jesus told a parable about seeds falling on different soils. When group of seeds fell on soil that eventually had weeds in it, the seeds produce no fruit. Jesus said this is the worries of this life (trials and troubles) and the deceitfulness of wealth. (Mark 13:22)

III. Hosea's Three Children (1:4-2:1)

>4. What was Hosea to name his first born? (4-5)

* Hosea 1:4-5 "Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel."

* "Then the LORD said to Hosea" -The Lord directed the naming of Hosea's children for a reason of great importance. Some spiritual leaders bent on controlling the lives of those who are suppose to be under their care use verses like this to justify naming other people's children. Nowhere does the Bible give leaders of any kind the right and direction to name new born's.

* "Jezreel" -One of David's wives, Ahinoam is said to be "of Jezreel" The Bible does not say when they married. Her only son mentioned in Amnon, David's eldest. (2 Sam. 3:2) Israel is said to had camped as the spring of Jezreel in the battle that Saul was killed in. (1 Sam. 29:11)

* "Jezreel"-Jezreel means "God sows" and by implication "God scatters". It refers to a major valley, a northern city, a southern city, one of David's wife, and the son of Hosea. The Old Testament uses the name to refer to the entire valley of Jezreel which separates Galilee from Samaria, including the valley of Esdraelon. (Holman Bible Dictionary)

* "Jezreel"-The northern city of Jezreel, which guarded the corridor to Beth-shan, was the site of the royal residence of Omri and Ahab where the incident of Naboth's vineyard occurred (1 Kings 21). (Holman Bible Dictionary)

* "I will soon punish the house of Jehu" -Jehu (842-815 B.C.) was a king of Israel, great grandfather of Jeroboam II. He reigned during the time of Elisha the prophet.

* "I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel" -In 722-721 B.C. the northern kingdom, called Israel, was attacked and defeated by Assyria. The southern kingdom was known as Judah in Hosea's time and in Jesus' time. The modern nation of Israel is the first time the name has been used since 721 B.C. The modern nation contains many Jews from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi. Many gentiles also live in the land, some of whom could be from the northern tribes.

* The message of destruction was not new for Amos also was told to proclaim it. Still, it must have been hard for Hosea to deliver, for unlike Amos, Hosea was from the northern tribes.

Jezreel Valley and Mount Tamor

* See a the view from Meggido, north-east across the Jezreel Valley in Israel to Mount Tabor by Joe Freeman to the right.

>Why?

* "for the massacre at Jezreel" Jeroboam II was of the dynasty of Jehu (842-815 B.C.) which was established at Jezreel by the overthrow of Ahab's son Joram. (2 Kings 9:14-37; 1 Kings 19:16-17) Jehu's dynasty ended with the murder of Zechariah. (1 Kings 15:8-10)

* Obtaining power by murder is old and common amongst unbelievers. Israel had followed the practices of other nations. Judah tried to keep David's line as king, even during Athaliah's murderous plan. Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and wife of Jehoram, king of Judah of the line of David. After her husband and son died she tried to kill all of her husband's children (descendants of David) and did so with the exception of the very youngest, Jehoash (Joash) who was hidden from her and eventually became king.

>What will happen in the valley of Jezreel?

* "In that day" -"In the last days" and "in that day" and "the day of the Lord" all referred to the future from the Old Testament prophets' point of view. They all referred to events concerning Jesus first and second coming. The day of the Lord is the time when God reveals His sovereignty over human powers and human existence.

* "I will break Israel's bow" -This happened when Assyria attacked and conquered Israel, the northern kingdom. The people were exported to Assyria, almost all never returned. After Judah fell and then returned a few Israelites were with them for when Jesus was brought to the temple Anna, an old prophetess from the tribe of Asher praised God for his birth. (Luke 2:36)

* "the Valley of Jezreel" -The valley of Jezreel is next to Meggido. The location will be a collection of mighty armies during the seven years of tribulation.

* In Modern day the Jezreel Valley is a green fertile plain covered with fields of wheat, cotton, sunflowers and corn, as well as grazing tracts for multitudes of sheep and cattle

>5. What was the daughter named?

* Hosea 1:6 "Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, that I should at all forgive them."

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>Why?

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>How does this explain what will happen at the resurrection of the dead at the Bema seat? (Matt. 25:11-13, 29-30, 41-46)

* Matthew 25:11-13 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

* Matthew 25:29-30 "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

* Matthew 25:41-46 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

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>6. Why was the fate of Judah mentioned to Hosea? (7)

* Hosea 1:7 "Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them--not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the LORD their God."

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>How did Jesus fulfill this? (2 Tim. 1:8-10)

* 2 Timothy 1:8-10 "So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

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>7. What was the name of Gomer's second son? (8-9)

* Hosea 1:8-9 "After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the LORD said, "Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your God."

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>What is the meaning behind this?

* "you are not my people, and I am not your God"

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>8. What hope was given? (10)

* Hosea 1:10 "Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

* "the Israelites" -Meaning several things in the Bible including: Jacob's physical descendants, the northern tribes of Israel, the Gentiles that would become Israel through a confession of faith.

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>How is this fulfilled in Jesus? (Rom. 9:23-26; Gal. 3:14; Col. 1:25-27; Eph. 2:11-13, 3:6)

* Romans 9:23-26 "What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory-- even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

* Galatians 3:14 "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."

* Colossians 1:25-27 "'I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

* Ephesians 2:11-13 "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."

* Ephesians 3:6 "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."

* "What if God" -Paul us using a hypothetical argument.

* "choosing to show his wrath and make his power known" -God wants all of the fallen race to know of his great wrath and power. Adam and Eve did not comprehend this before they sinned.

* "bore with great patients objects of his wrath" -He let them sin.

* "prepared for destruction" -A persons response to this statement depends on their point of view of God. God is sovereign. Have you decided to accept his sovereignty and turn to him for forgiveness? Have you begged in humility for Jesus act of salvation on the cross and in the resurrection led you to truth? Do you trust and believe his truth? "Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened," Jesus promises.

* "the objects of his mercy" -God wanted his people to know the riches of his glory.

* Satan wants to make God look unreasonable. so he twists this words to make people turn from God and turn towards him.

* 2 Corinthians 10:5 states, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

* "not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles" -God's grace has poured out to everyone in the world so abundantly since Jesus rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit some two thousand years ago. God promised Abraham that through his seed (the Messiah) all nations would be blessed. God had kept has that promise as can now see. God also said of the northern tribes (Israel) that were scattered during the Assyrian captivity that he could call them a nation again; that is his people again. Who are these people? Where are they at? Their seed is spread to every corner of the earth. People may be direct decendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and may not even know it. Not only that, people who do not have Jacob's seed have miraculously been made Israel by faith in the Messiah Jesus. Thus those of the northern kingdom (called Israel) whom God said, "You are not my people," he has through Jesus called them his people again. Their numbers are so great, like sand on the seashore, and some among them are saved through Jesus. As proof of this fact all we have to do is to look at the list of the twelve tribes in the book Revelation; not just Jews (Judah) is mentioned, but all twelve tribes are listed to get the mark of the Lord and are sent out.

* "For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality" -The age we are in now is often called the age of preaching the gospel, the age of grace, the age of the Gentiles, and the age of the church. Whatever one calls it, this age is coming to an end very soon. Soon God's judgement, a sentence already made, will be carried out. After the judgement will be a new again, the age of the one thousand year reign of Christ.

* Hosea chapter two is also an amazing read pointing to our generation. It ends with, "I will plant her for myself in the land; 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'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'" (Hosea 2:23)

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a silhouette of Jesus on cross

* See a silhouette of Jesus on cross" width to the right.

>In the great commission he has given us? (Mark 16:15)

* Mark 16:15 "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

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>9. What amazing prophecy is in verse 11?

* Hosea 1:11 "The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel."

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>Who is the one leader?

* "they will appoint one leader"

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>How through this do we know what the "day of Jezreel" is?

* "day of Jezreel"

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>10. How are we brothers and sisters? (2; Heb. 2:11-17)

* Hosea 2:1 "Say of your brothers, 'My people,' and of your sisters, 'My loved one.'"

* Hebrews 2:11-17 "Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."

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