BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

What do broken marriages and broken nations have in common? According to the book of Hosea, quite a lot.

Hosea is the first of 12 short prophetic books (sometimes called the Minor Prophets) originally designed to be read as a single scroll called “The Twelve.”

The book begins with a heartbreaking story: Hosea’s wife ditches him to run off with another guy. Yahweh tells Hosea that his wife’s adultery mirrors Israel’s spiritual infidelity. Though Yahweh has given himself like a devoted husband to the Israelites, they have betrayed the relationship by running off with other gods.

To worsen matters, Israel’s adulterous idolatry mirrors spiritual prostitution. The people take the good grain and grapes given by Yahweh only to give that goodness to another god. Their sacrifices to Canaanite gods aim to seduce for payment: rain for their barley fields, safe pastures for their flocks, grapes on their vines.

But this affair leads only to ruin. Israel’s striptease for idols will leave the nation bare and shivering, exposed to the raw consequences of abandoning Yahweh’s protection.

The imagery in Hosea 2 is graphic and disturbing, and that’s the point. Israel’s dismaying behavior has blinded them. Yahweh wants to shock the Israelites into seeing the weight of their actions. (Remember Isaiah’s three years of public nudity? He was communicating a similar message.)

Israel’s infidelity isn’t the end of the story. Yahweh tells Hosea to seek out his unfaithful wife and take her back. Yahweh is going to do the same thing for Israel. Watch the video to learn more about Yahweh’s radical and relentless love in the book of Hosea.

Reflection Questions

• Take a few minutes to review the reigns of the kings who were in power during Hosea’s prophetic ministry in 2 Kings 14:23-28 and 2 Kings 15:8-31. How does this help you understand the context of Hosea’s ministry?
• What specific commands does Yahweh accuse Israel of breaking in Hosea 4? What happens as a result? How do these accusations help you understand the nature and effects of Israel’s spiritual adultery?