RETURN TO ME: HOSEA

• Hosea means salvation, deliverance, or he saves and is associated with saving or . Hosea’s name is closely related to Joshua and Jesus.
• The theme of Hosea’s ministry was confronting spiritual .
• When God’s people turn their backs on Him in rebellion, brutal things can happen. Not because God fails to love, but because He loves His people.
• Hebrews 12:6-8 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

• In the prophetic books from Isaiah to Malachi, there are references to the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
• After Solomon’s death, Israel split into the northern and southern kingdoms. The split permanently weakened both kingdoms.
  1. The North is called Israel; its capital is Samaria, and its leader is Jeroboam I.
  2. The south is called Judah; its capital is Jerusalem, and its leader is Rehoboam.
• Some of the minor prophets were sent to the northern kingdom and others to the southern kingdom.
• God often used catastrophic events to bring them back to Him.

Merciful God,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus bled, suffered, and died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I place my faith in Jesus alone—not in good works or a religion, but in a relationship.

Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to You and ask You to help me follow and obey You from this day forward. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and the gift of eternal life.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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