Thursday Bible Study

 Chapter 13 ended with some pretty chilling words. God had been so patient with Israel. God had sent prophet after prophet to warn them about their persistent unfaithfulness, but now time had run out... Is God done with Israel? Chapter 14 provides us with an answer... In verse 1, How does Hosea address Israel? Why is this appeal of Hosea 14:1 such a surprise after 13:14-16? How is the theme of genuine repentance dealt with in verse 2? In verse 3, what is mentioned about determination? What will Israel find if they return to God? What does God long for? How does Hosea describe God in verses 1 and 3? Why is that so astonishing and so encouraging? Like the father looking, waiting, and aching for his children's homecoming... so God yearns for us to return. In these verses, if it takes a national disaster to disrupt Israel's human pride and stubbornness, what does that say about us? How much tragedy might God need to allow into your life before you're willing to approach Him wit...

 Just when we think that Israel's sin is so bad and God is so furious that the end of the nation is inevitable, the Prophet Hosea surprises us. In the last words of this chapter, hope begins to flicker once more... What hope does God hold out to Israel in verses 13-14? What stops Israel from receiving it? What does that teach you? Hosea knew, in a deep and personal way, that God 's love for His people never gives up. Even though this generation chooses death, God will not give up on His people. How do we see this playing out here? [Activity] Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. How does Paul understand what's happening in Hosea 13:14 in light of what Jesus accomplished? How do these truths encourage you to keep trusting in God?

 What is it that stirs up God's anger? Last time (Hosea 13:1-3) we saw Israel's unfaithfulness, but it isn't just their idolatry. This time we see another sin... what is it? What are we reminded of in verse 4? This verse quotes Exodus 20:2-3. What does God say in Exodus 20:4? How is God described and what does that tell us about Him? How are God's past actioned described in verse 5? The more God gives to Israel, the more Israel seems to think of themselves and their own abilities. How do you see this being addressed in verse 6? Idolatry, pride, and one other thing all kindle God's wrath - unbelief.  [Activity] Read 1 Samuel 8:4-18 where Israel asks for a king. What do we learn about God from this story? What do we learn about ourselves from this story?

 With the start of this penultimate chapter comes the darkest part of Hosea's prophecy. In just a few verses, the prophet sketches out Israel's demise... How do you see Israel's past being described in verse 1? As Hosea looks back at Israel's past, what does he remember? How does the prophet choose to describe what had happened to them? How do you see Israel's present being described in verse 2? What is the present result? Idolatry has been a big theme of the entire book, but how does it get played out here? How does sin trap us and spiral out of control? How do you see Israel's future being described in verse 3? What will God do now (verse 3 and jump ahead to verses 15-16)? What does this tell us about God? Israel fell not because she was poor, nor because Assyria was stronger, but because she had abandoned the Lord and chased after Baal. Walking away from God only brings our own demise. How have you seen this in your own life?