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“A Picture of How to Please God”Hosea 12Small GroupsHow is a picture often worth a thousand words?Hosea pictures Judah (the southern kingdom) as a parallel with the life of Jacob.Don’t Try to Deceive God (vv. 2-3)Jacob and his Birthright (Gen. 25)Story of Jacob stealing his brother’s birthright. Being deceptive is what his name means and was part of his character. He thought he could fool everyone.Every person in the Bible that tried to fool God- Adam and Eve, Achan, Gehazi, Jonah, Annanias and Sapphira- all failed at the attempt. When you try and fool God, you’re really just fooling yourself. How do we try this in our lives today? What are some examples?Don’t Try to Bargain with God (v.4)Jacob at the Jabbok (Gen. 31) and at Bethel (Gen. 35)The second episode in Jacob’s life is the crucial one, for it was the turning point in his life: his struggle with the angel of God at Jabbok. Jacob feared his brother Esau after stealing his birthright, and sent everything he had over the river to him to appease him. The lesson is that Jacob gave all he had except for himself.What things do you give to God as a substitute for yourself? We do funny stuff when something that threatens us gets close to us. [story of me finding a snake in my house]The thing is this- God isn’t a threat! You think he is because he is going to disrupt your life. But is that bad? What he is disrupting is your allegiance to what isn’t eternal. How can it be bad for you to surrender to God. You must surrender yourself!The rest of the chapter is about Israel. It’s too late for them. They will fall. Why? The word “merchant” in v.7 is actually the word “Canaan.” The emphasis on being dishonest in trade, but by translating it “merchant” Hosea’s deliberate reference to the people of the land is obscured.The point is this. Before Israel settled in the land promised to them by God, the land was called Canaan. It was an abominable place. Not only was it a center for all types of commercial dishonesty; it was also notorious for its sexual and religious depravity. Cultic prostitution was common. People worshiped symbols of sexual organs. At times children were sacrificed to Canaan’s gods. “Canaan” meant depravity. When Israel was sent into Canaan under Joshua, she was given the task of rooting out this corruption and establishing a culture marked by holiness instead. Israel’s task was to make Canaan Israel. What happened? Canaan made Israel Canaan! How do we make ourselves like Canaan today? As individuals? As families? As a nation?Three Pictures: Decaying, Surviving, ThrivingThus far in our study of Hosea 12 we have had two pictures: a picture of the southern nation standing on the brink of decision, at her own personal Jabbok, and a picture of the northern kingdom as having passed beyond the point of recovery. Israel is decaying and Judah is barely surviving. Two pictures! But there is also a third to be considered, though it is not presented in this chapter. It is the proper picture, the one to which these pictures point by comparison. What is it? It is of faithful service to God. Note Rom. 12:1- “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God? which is your spiritual worship.”Why Is it “Reasonable” to Serve God?This Is What God Has Done for Us This is the significance of the word “therefore” that begins this chapter. “Therefore” refers back to everything that Paul has already said in the epistle. We were not righteous, but we are made righteous in Christ. We did not understand spiritual things, but he gives us understanding. We did not seek after him, but he sought us. This Is What God Is Doing in Us Salvation is not just a past thing. Salvation is also a present experience. It is not only under the penalty of sin that we suffer. There is also the power of sin. We know how difficult it is to make changes in life, break habits, live a life pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit provides us with that present salvation so that as we come to him, pray, study his Word, and share with other Christians, we do grow. This Is God’s Will for UsRom. 12:2- “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world [Phillips- ‘Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold’], but be transformed [that is, from within] by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Don’t let Canaan turn you into Canaan!What is God’s will for you? It is “good.” God’s will is always good and what is best for you.It is “pleasing.” Doing God’s will pleases him and will satisfy you. It is “perfect.” Paul is saying that it cannot be improved upon. Our ways are not God’s ways. Why resist God’s will? You cannot alter it.What are the challenges we face in doing God’s will?? ................
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