The Gospel Project at Home: Hosea, Prophet to Israel

Read Scripture

​Read all or parts of the book of Hosea from your Bible or watch the Bible story video.

Preschool Bible Story Video

Elementary Bible Story Video

Talk About Scripture

Hosea was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel for at least forty years. God sent Hosea to tell Israel of God’s hatred toward sin and of His coming judgment. God also sent Hosea to bring a message of love—a love that never gives up. 

To get the message across to the Israelites, God used Hosea’s own life to show Israel what a never-gives-up kind of love looks like. The entire book of Hosea beautifully mirrors the love Hosea showed to his unfaithful wife to the way that God loved the unfaithful Israelites. 

Hosea obeyed God’s instructions to marry a woman named Gomer. Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea and ran away from him. Hosea loved Gomer as his wife, even though she wasn’t faithful. When she ran away, Hosea brought her back and even paid what she owed others. 

It would have been easier for Hosea to end his marriage covenant—to throw up his hands and say, “Enough! I’m done with you!” And it would have been easier for God to end His covenant with the Israelites when they were unfaithful to Him. 

But God’s love never gives up. We see His beautiful love in Hosea 11. God gave Hosea a love for his wife that compelled him to pay her debts and bring her back home. In a similar way, God sought after His unfaithful people even after all they had done. God paid a high price—the life of His Son, Jesus—to bring them back to Himself. 

Israel was not faithful to God, but God was faithful to Israel, just as Hosea loved his wife even when she didn't love him. God is faithful to save all sinners who repent and trust in Jesus.                      

Pray: God, thank You for being faithful to us even when we were unfaithful to You. Your love is better than anything we can imagine. Help us to rest in Your love and know that nothing can separate us from You if we have faith in Jesus. Amen.

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Learn Scripture

Preschool Scripture Music Video

Elementary Scripture Music Video

Family Prayer

Mornings: Ask God to help you listen to His voice and trust in His plan for your life—even when you might not understand everything that is happening. How does the character of God—His goodness, love, faithfulness, and power—help you to trust Him when things scary or hard to understand?  

Evenings: Ask God to help you see others the way He sees them. Ask Him to give you a compassionate heart that remembers how we are all in need of God’s love and grace.  

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Family Activities

For Fun: Talk about or show photographs from a wedding—yours or the wedding of a family member or friend. Talk about the ceremony, the vows, and the love expressed on that day. Talk with kids about how God’s love for us is the greatest love of all and how His love lasts forever.    

To Serve: Gather some items for care packages that can be shared with those in need. You can create simple care packages for homeless shelters, nursing homes, or even families in your community. Talk with kids about ways you can show God’s compassion found in the story of Jonah by serving others in the community. Just as God showed compassion to Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and us, we are called to extend kindness to others.   

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