Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults

Listen to this week’s leader training podcast with Y Bonesteele, team leader for The Gospel Project for Adults, for a summary and guidance in leading your group.

This week’s additional resources for study and preparation:

• Article: “We Are Gomer” by Brandon D. Smith
• Article: “A Wife No Man Would Want” by Marshall Segal
• Sermon: “The Minor Prophets – Part Two” by Jason Cook
• Podcast: “David Murray on Teaching Hosea” by Nancy Guthrie and David Murray

Transcript of Leader Training Podcast:

Hi, this is Y Bonesteele, team leader of The Gospel Project for Adults. Welcome to another Leader Training podcast. Today we are in Unit 14, Session 3, Reconciliation, with the core passage centered around Hosea and the key concept of: God in His grace reconciles with His sinful people.

Last week, we learned about Jonah, a prophet who served during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. During the same time in history, Hosea was also a prophet. He is considered a minor prophet because of the shortness of the book. His story, however, is different than Jonah’s in that his message was intertwined with his life. His life was an object lesson so to speak.

Now Hosea starts pretty abruptly. It shows during what reigns Hosea lived in verse 1: “during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.” Then we see that God spoke to Hosea and told him to go and marry “a woman of promiscuity and have children of promiscuity.” If this wasn’t in the Bible, we’d think this was fake news. Why would God tell one of his people to marry someone who was unfaithful? But because God’s people were so unfaithful and repeatedly disobedient, God had to show them through Hosea’s life how unfaithful they were being by following other gods. But it wasn’t just a symbol of their unfaithfulness, it was also a real-life symbol and parable of God’s own faithful love to them, calling them back to him. In God’s explanation in verse 2, God states the why: “for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity by abandoning the Lord.”

And Hosea obeyed—he went and married Gomer and she gave him a son.

Throughout the rest of chapter 1, Gomer gave birth to 3 children in total and God gave them each a significant name. Though the first was stated that she “bore him a son,” the others were simply “she gave birth to a daughter” and “she gave birth to a son,” alluding to the fact that Hosea may have not been the father. The name of each child pointed to what God would do in response to the Israelites’ disobedience. Jezreel, meaning “God scatters,” Lo-ruhamah, meaning “no compassion,” and Lo-ammi, meaning “not my people” speak for itself. God would scatter His people, He would not have compassion on them, and they would not be His people because of their unfaithfulness and idolatry.

Chapter 2 then starts into a rebuke of Gomer and a rebuke of Israel. Israel, like a promiscuous wife, pursued other lovers and didn’t recognize God as their true provider. God would block their path, and He would reveal their shame. Starting in verse 14, however, God would try to woo them back to Him. And in verse 19, God would take them back forever. He would take them back, even as the unfaithful wife that they were, because of His “righteousness, justice, love, and compassion.” The phrase “I will take you to be my wife” is repeated 3 times. In poetic form, God confirmed His covenant with His people, and they would know Him, and He would have compassion on their children, their descendants, represented in the names of Hosea and Gomer’s children. For their children, God would say, “You are my people” and He would be their God, redeeming and reversing the meaning of the names given them.

Last week, we saw God’s mercy for the Ninevites, a ruthless people. And this week, we see God’s mercy for His own rebellious people. We are reminded that all have sinned, people far from God and His own people. He is merciful to us all because mercy and compassion is His character.

Why is it important that God’s love for Israel was rooted in His character and not Israel’s faithfulness? Israel and God’s people will never be completely faithful. We are all sinners sadly and in our human nature, we cannot stop being sinful. God knows that so in His perfect compassionate nature, He loves and forgives and is merciful. And through His Son, Jesus, we are seen as righteous before Him, because of Christ’s sacrifice and not of our own doing.

In chapter 3, then, the Lord told Hosea to show mercy to his wife, “Go again, show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress.” And He explained why: “just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” Gomer is referred to as just “a woman” and “an adulteress” as she had lost her right to be called Hosea’s wife, just as the Israelites had lost their right to be called the people of God because of their idolatry. And in case anyone was curious about the “raisin cakes,” they were used in pagan worship practices and were mentioned to represent the decadent pleasure the people had for idol worship.

In response to God’s words, Hosea bought Gomer for 15 shekels of silver and 9 bushels of barley. No one is actually sure what happened to Gomer that Hosea had to buy her, but the best theory in my opinion is that Gomer left Hosea, pursuing other men as seen in 2:5, “follow[ing her] lovers,” and she was left in dire straits, needing to sell herself into slavery or prostitution and/or getting herself into debt. Hosea than had to buy her back, either paying her debts or simply paying for her to get out of her situation that she could come back home to him, showing love to her as God commanded. And the next line sounds odd in verse 3: Hosea said to Gomer, “You are to live with me many days. You must not be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you.” But verse 4 sheds light on it. “For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.” Some commentators share the idea that Hosea took Gomer back with some conditions. She would live with him but not have relations with other men and not have relations with him either until she was ready, and he would do the same and would win her heart back to him—just as the Israelites would return to the Lord without worshiping other gods, but slowly they would come back in full worship and awe of Him. Hosea would wait for Gomer to come back to him in covenant love and not be forceful about it, as God would wait for His people to come back to Him in covenant love and not force them.

In the rest of Hosea, God presented a case against Israel, judging them for their idolatry and unfaithfulness and calling them to repentance. But Israel was corrupt, following false idols and disobedient kings. But God still remained faithful, desiring to restore His people.

Chapter 14 ends with God continuing to call His people to repentance, pleading them to “return to the Lord” twice and telling them to ask God for forgiveness. And God promised to “heal their apostasy”, “freely love them,” and have his anger “turned.” God’s commitment to His people was revealed through Hosea’s life and his message.

Like the Gospel Connection states: “Though Gomer was unfaithful, God commanded Hosea to take her back in love and compassion, symbolizing God’s own love and forgiveness for His people, Israel. One day, Israel will return and seek after the messianic King, Jesus (Rom. 11). Through faith in Jesus, all who believe are forgiven and reconciled with God because of God’s grace and mercy.”

Onto the Group Experience, then, start with the icebreaker question, “When have you done something wrong and someone showed you grace and forgiveness?” Move into the Context giving some highlights about Hosea and how his life and message intertwined as a life object lesson for God’s people, revealing God’s faithful character.

Recap, displaying Pack Item 9: You Will Know the Lord poster, looking at Hosea 2:19-20. Recap the core passage, asking for any highlights or questions from your group. Transition into the Group Experience explaining that today, we’re going to look at God’s character of compassion and reconciliation in various events in Scripture.

Head into the Group Activity pointing to page 74 of the Personal Study Guide. Divide the group into three smaller groups, assigning each group one of the three non-Hosea accounts, following the instructions on page 93 of the Leader Guide.

Answers for Joseph and his brothers include the damaging action of his brothers selling him into slavery to Egypt. Joseph’s response was revealing himself to his brothers and letting them know that God meant it for good, to save his family and the people from the famine, ending with him kissing his brothers. Reconciliation was affirmed after their father died and the brothers were worried that Joseph would hold a grudge and asked for forgiveness, but Joseph reaffirmed his forgiveness and God’s sovereign hand in the whole situation.

Answers for the prodigal son include the damaging action of the son asking for his inheritance, thus wishing his father dead, and squandering all his money on frivolous things. The responses that facilitated the reconciliation was the son coming to his senses and seeing how good he had it at his father’s house, even as a servant; so he returns to his father’s house. The reconciliation was affirmed when the father responds in running to the son, throwing his arms around him, kissing him, giving him the best robe and ring, and throwing him a feast.

Answers for Paul and Peter include the damaging action of Peter who acted hypocritically when, in the past he ate with Gentiles freely, but when certain Jews arrived, he drew away from the Gentiles. Paul’s action may seem damaging as well as he confronted Peter publicly, reminding all that Gentiles did not have to adhere to Jewish tradition because the gospel is a gospel of grace. We are not sure what response facilitated the reconciliation, but it was affirmed when Peter called Paul his “dear brother” in 2 Peter and acknowledged his wisdom and calling it “Scripture.”

Then discuss: What are some common themes in these stories? Some answers may include that one party does something wrong but both parties must be willing to reconcile; also, at least one person must initiate the reconciliation; compassion and mercy is needed; and just because reconciliation happens doesn’t mean that what was done wrong wasn’t wrong.

How are these themes found in the larger story of Scripture? We find that someone did something wrong, humanity; but that God is the God of reconciliation. He longs to be reconciled with His people and will initiate the reconciliation but we, His people, must respond in acceptance and faith in His Son. We also see God’s compassion and mercy in the reconciliation. And just because God is compassionate and forgiving doesn’t mean that sin isn’t sin. Our wrongs are still wrongs and hurtful to God, but His faithful love overcomes all.

Then altogether, reading through the core passage, answer the boxes for Hosea and Gomer. The damaging action was Gomer being promiscuous and adulteress. The response facilitating reconciliation is God telling Hosea to take Gomer back and Hosea obeying and doing such. And the affirmation is Hosea buying Gomer back and letting her know that she would live with him many days, waiting for her to return in covenant love to him.

Debrief with the question: God did not instruct Hosea just to marry Gomer but to love her. How are we as believers called to love others, even those who wound us? We are to show mercy, compassion, and love to all, imitating Christ. God’s command to Hosea to forgive and reconcile is a command to us as well. Love and forgiveness is hard and can include boundaries but a tender heart, a loving heart is what God asks of us. What does Hosea’s pursuit of Gomer teach you about God’s pursuit of you? What God commanded Hosea to do shows God’s pursuit and His amazing love. His compassion and mercy cover so much and His heart and pursuit of us reminds us that we too need to forgive and pursue loving others in the way God would.

Summarize and cover the Hands question if time is limited. Who do you need to forgive and reconcile with, and what steps will you take to do so? Since this is a personal question, ask your group if anyone would like to share but if no one does, feel free to move on. Give the suggestions for Next Steps and end in praise and prayer requests. If time permits, pray through Psalm 89, the resource says 13-18, but if time is limited, just verse 1-2 suffices: “I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth. 2 For I will declare, ‘Faithful love is built up forever; you establish your faithfulness in the heavens.’”

Hey, thanks for joining me on another leader training podcast. Write me at [email protected] and hope you have a great group time!