Thursday Bible Study

 Hosea is continuing to shine a spotlight on Israel's double-life - her infidelity, her fake devotion to Yahweh (while worshipping other gods) and her dangerous political tactics of playing one nation (Egypt) off of another (Assyria)... Yahweh had chosen Israel to be holy (set apart / different) but they were turning out to be just the same as everyone else. How? In verses 7 and 9 Israel are described as acting just like Canaan and Egypt. Why might this be happening? In Hosea 12:8 what is being described and why? In Revelation 3:17-19, the church in Laodicea is described as neither hot nor cold and that Jesus literally finds that repulsive. How do you see similar themes and results with Israel here in Hosea 12? What do we find out about Israel's religiosity (in verse 11) and Israel's misguided idea that she has no need for Yahweh (in verse 12)?  [Activity] Read Deuteronomy 28:9-11.  What was supposed to happen? But what had happened instead by Hosea's day (Hosea 12:7)? ...

 We've reached the last four chapters of Hosea's prophecy. This is where the prophet goes back over the three main themes of the book... Israel's spiritual adultery. God's justified anger and frustration with Israel. God's longing for a renewed relationship. The end of chapter 11 and the very beginning of chapter 12 begins with Israel's unfaithfulness. How has Israel offended God? In this section we see that Israel has been trying to live a 'double life'. How have they been trying to do this? Why would they choose this way of living? In what ways might you be trying to live a double life? What motivations do these verses give you, to shun that way of living? In Hosea 12:1, instead of 'feeding on the Word', Hosea describes Israel as 'feeding on the wind'. What could the prophet mean by this? In verses 3-4, the nations of Israel and Judah are compared to the twin brothers, Esau & Jacob. How does this compare? How did God take the 'g...

 God was so deeply hurt by Israel's spiritual adultery that He said He would send His people into exile... yet in His next breath (verse 8) what do we hear God saying? Again we see God agonising over His people, like a Father wrestling over the wayward child He loves. Two place are named in verse 8, Admah and Zeboyim. What does Deuteronomy tell you about them both? On the one hand, God cannot deny His justice, for He is just. On the other, He cannot deny His mercy, for God is love. How do we see these two contrasting points playing out? In verses 9-10 how will God resolve this tension? It is only at the cross that we find that God is both love and utterly just, and neither is compromised. How does, what you're reading about here in Hosea 11, link to the life of Christ in the gospels? [Activity] Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. How did God reconcile us to Himself? How was it possible for a just God to not count our sins against us? Why did Christ have to come down to earth? What was ...

 Following on from last time, the mood quickly changes. This gentle, tender Father now becomes furious at His son's repeated rejection... What is being discussed in verses 5-6? What is the significance of the mention of Egypt? Verse 7 can be split into two separate statements. What is being described in both halves of this verse? In just a few years (722 BC), Israel would be invaded by Assyria and the people carted off into slavery. What does this, historically, show us about God and God's promises? God is a devoted Father... but that doesn't mean He's a pushover! [Activity] Read Matthew 21:12-16] There is a time and a place for legitimate anger. What's going on in this scene? Can you think of a time, in your own life, where it was right to get angry? How can you ensure that that anger doesn't lead you to sin? God loved Israel, but that didn't stop Him from sending Assyria to discipline her. Anger ISN'T the opposite of love. How do you see this playing o...