cherryblossom
04-27-2009, 05:09 PM
Lesson 12: Hosea and Gomer: Forgiving the Unfaithful *
Introduction: My parents grew up in a situation in which it appeared to them they were not the favored child. Those married couples who have gone through a difficult time or divorce, because of adultery, have a close-up look at what it means to be considered "second-best." God felt that way in His relationship with His people, Israel. He was unhappy because they did not put Him in first place in their hearts. This week our study is on a couple who display this problem. Let's plunge into our study and find out more!
The Marriage Instructions
Read Hosea 1:1-3. What is Hosea and how long has he been on the job? (He is a new prophet. God has started to speak through him.)
What is one of the first things that God reveals to Hosea? (Marry an adulterous wife and have illegitimate children.)
As a new prophet, might this make you wonder about your gift?
Those are certainly odd instructions from a God who condemns adultery! Why does God say that Hosea should do this? (God wants to illustrate the point about the way His people are treating Him.)
Was Gomer (Hosea's wife to be) an "adulterous wife" before or after their marriage? (The Bible is not clear on this. How would you know your wife would commit adultery? My view is that Hosea wanted to marry Gomer (I think his first mistake was to marry someone with that name (I'm kidding) and it proved, as God predicted, that she would be unfaithful to Hosea.)
CONTINUED: http://www.sabbathschoollessons.com/archive/261-hosegomer:-forgiving-unfaithful.htm
Introduction: My parents grew up in a situation in which it appeared to them they were not the favored child. Those married couples who have gone through a difficult time or divorce, because of adultery, have a close-up look at what it means to be considered "second-best." God felt that way in His relationship with His people, Israel. He was unhappy because they did not put Him in first place in their hearts. This week our study is on a couple who display this problem. Let's plunge into our study and find out more!
The Marriage Instructions
Read Hosea 1:1-3. What is Hosea and how long has he been on the job? (He is a new prophet. God has started to speak through him.)
What is one of the first things that God reveals to Hosea? (Marry an adulterous wife and have illegitimate children.)
As a new prophet, might this make you wonder about your gift?
Those are certainly odd instructions from a God who condemns adultery! Why does God say that Hosea should do this? (God wants to illustrate the point about the way His people are treating Him.)
Was Gomer (Hosea's wife to be) an "adulterous wife" before or after their marriage? (The Bible is not clear on this. How would you know your wife would commit adultery? My view is that Hosea wanted to marry Gomer (I think his first mistake was to marry someone with that name (I'm kidding) and it proved, as God predicted, that she would be unfaithful to Hosea.)
CONTINUED: http://www.sabbathschoollessons.com/archive/261-hosegomer:-forgiving-unfaithful.htm