9.8 Hosea 9-11

Josh and Jennie Baumann

9.8.2020

Hosea 9-11

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

Israel is failing and has forgotten who God really is. God is angry but forgiving–Israel has been given so much with the expectancy to do much, but they squander it. Chapters 9 and 10 detail the consequences and challenges. However, Chapter 11 discusses God’s promise to love and lift up Israel. In His sovereignty and omnipotence, He could have destroyed the people, but chooses not to.

What is one key verse?

Hosea 11:8: “”How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.”

It proves to us that God is well-rounded. We try to peg him as one-dimensional but God has emotions and a heart. He is impacted by our decisions, good or bad. He isn’t uncaring. He loves us deeply.

How does what you read change your vision of God?

It reinforces how we view God by reminding us of who we are before Him. We fail daily. We forget who God is, but God never forgets us. He loves us endlessly even though we deserve punishment.

How does what you read change your vision of others?

We can only see the person in front of us–we need to make a conscious decision to see beyond people’s sin when they hurt us and recognize the potential for love underneath it all.

Action step/how will you go with God because of this?

God chooses to see us with love and as our potential, not as the sinners we are or for the punishment we deserve. He sees the best in us. The scriptures we read remind us to look for and to assume the best in everyone. 

It also reminds us of God’s strength when we struggle to see beyond people’s sin. God is the only one who can change our hearts.

How do you see Jesus through this?

We saw Jesus as the ultimate example. Just as God loved and led Israel through multiple ways both cognizant and unrealized, Jesus does the same for us. Consequences are a way God shows Israel love, and Jesus died as a way to reconcile us for the ultimate consequence.