Old Testament: Hos 2.21–23

To read the Bible in a year, read Hosea 1–4 on December 9, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

In the Book of Hosea, the Lord spoke bluntly to his people, that if they did not repent and return to him, he would no longer consider them his people, but if they turned to him, he would bless them generously: 

“It shall come to pass in that day
That I will answer,” says the LORD;
“I will answer the heavens,
And they shall answer the earth.
The earth shall answer
With grain,
With new wine,
And with oil;
They shall answer Jezreel.
Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth,
And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy;
Then I will say to those who were not My people,
‘You are My people!’
And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’”

– Hosea 2.21–23 

He always wanted to be their God, but he wanted them to acknowledge him as their God. If these things were not true, what then would be the purpose of the Bible? The Bible reveals repeatedly how much God wants to bless man, but he will curse man, if man continues to go his own way. 

Questions: 

• With what would the earth answer? 
• What does God want to say to his people? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com