Hosea Prophet to the Northern Kingdom – Israel Prophet to the Northern Kingdom – Israel Worked BC Worked BC Time of prosperity – yet moral corruption and idolatry Time of prosperity – yet moral corruption and idolatry Point: warn of idolatry & immorality Point: warn of idolatry & immorality

Hosea I. Israels Adultery Illustrated by Hosea & Gomer (1-3) II. Inevitable Doom (4-13) A. Guilt (4-8) B. Doom (9-11) C. Retrospect & earlier history (12-13) III. Restoration / Pardon (14)

Hosea 4 Charge of her guilt (v. 1) Forgotten God by their multiple sins (vv. 1-2) Forgotten God by their multiple sins (vv. 1-2) Turned from the law of God (v. 6) Turned from the law of God (v. 6) Ceased obeying God (v. 10) Ceased obeying God (v. 10) Harlotry & wine enslave them (v. 11) Harlotry & wine enslave them (v. 11) Turn to idols for counsel (v. 12) Turn to idols for counsel (v. 12) Judah should take heed seeing Israel (v. 15) Judah should take heed seeing Israel (v. 15) Israel gone too far (vv ) Israel gone too far (vv )

"Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone. Hosea 4:17 Ephraim – Israel (one tribe standing for all) Ephraim – Israel (one tribe standing for all) They are stubborn / rebellious (v. 16, 18) They are stubborn / rebellious (v. 16, 18) God will let them go (v. 16) God will let them go (v. 16) Love doing things ought to be ashamed of (v. 18) Love doing things ought to be ashamed of (v. 18) Point: Israel chose a life of sin – God will let them go

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray

A. Warnings are abundant 1. Gal. 5:4 2. Heb. 10: Gal. 6:1

I. Gods People Can Turn Astray A. Warnings are abundant B. Happen to any of us 1. Did to Judas (John 17:12) 2. Did to Peter (Luke 22:32; Gal. 2:11- 14) 3. Heb. 3:12-13 – in any of you

I. Gods People Can Turn Astray A. Warnings are abundant B. Happen to any of us C. How it happens 1. Neglect – Heb. 2:1 2. Carelessness – 2 Pet. 1:5-10

I. Gods People Can Turn Astray A. Warnings are abundant B. Happen to any of us C. How it happens D. How far we could go 1. Point of unbelief (Heb. 3:12-13) 2. Point of no return (Heb. 6:1-6)

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray II. Man Has Free Will – Choice

A. Ephraim had a choice – chose idolatry B. God does not force submission (though he could) C. Liberty to choose 1. Josh 24:15 – choose you this day 2. Luke 15:11-32 – young man had a chose 3. Rom 6:13 – chose who we serve

II. Man Has Free Will – Choice A. Ephraim had a choice – chose idolatry B. God does not force submission (though he could) C. Liberty to choose D. Liberty to chose – not mean all choices are equal 1. Right – Wrong 2. Good – Bad 3. Wisdom - Foolishness Contrast in Proverbs

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray II. Man Has Free Will – Choice III. Man Is Stubborn

A. Israel is like a stubborn calf (vv. 16, 18) B. Stubbornness Defined 1. Not a matter of knowing 2. Refusing to be lead by Gods will (v. 6) 3. Not going to give up own will 4. Break all restraints (v. 2)

III. Man Is Stubborn A. Israel is like a stubborn calf (vv. 16, 18) B. Stubbornness Defined C. Reasons are varied 1. No one (including God) going to tell them what to do 2. Not going to give up what doing 3. Think they know best 4. Prophets of doom – overstated case

III. Man Is Stubborn A. Israel is like a stubborn calf (vv. 16, 18) B. Stubbornness Defined C. Reasons are varied D. Man must suppress own will (Mark 8:34)

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray II. Man Has Free Will – Choice III. Man Is Stubborn IV. Man Faces Consequences For Choices

A. Consequences come with choices (Rom. 2:8-11) 1. Step in from of train – killed! 2. Reach hand into lions cage – bit off!

IV. Man Faces Consequences For Choices A. Consequences come with choices (Rom. 2:8-11) B. Way of the transgressor hard (Prov. 13:15) C. Different kinds of consequences: 1. Some – Spiritual (Jas. 1:15) 2. Some – Eternal (Rom 6:23) 3. Some – Relational (Prov. 6:33; 1 Cor. 5) 4. Some – Personal (self respect Prov. 5)

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray II. Man Has Free Will – Choice III. Man Is Stubborn IV. Man Faces Consequences For Choices V. Reason Man Sins – He Likes It

A. Where heart is (4:8) B. Love doing dishonorable things (4:18) C. Love darkness – what want to do (Jno. 3:19- 21) D. Pleasure in sin (Heb. 11:25) E. Man tries to explain & reason: 1. Does so to justify / excuse / rationalize 2. Born that way – justify homosexuality 3. Sickness – Disease – justify drinking 4. In poverty –deprived –justify stealing

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray II. Man Has Free Will – Choice III. Man Is Stubborn IV. Man Faces Consequences For Choices V. Reason Man Sins – He Likes It VI. God Lets Man Go

A. If man wants to live in sin – God lets them go 1. V. 16 – turns them out to pasture 2. V. 17 – let them alone

VI. God Lets Man Go A. If man wants to live in sin – God lets them go B. Father let the son go (Luke 15:11ff) C. Comes a time God gives them up (Rom. 1:24, 26)

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray II. Man Has Free Will – Choice III. Man Is Stubborn IV. Man Faces Consequences For Choices V. Reason Man Sins – He Likes It VI. God Lets Man Go VII. God Still Cares – Calls To Repentance

VII. Gods Still Cares – Call To Repentance A. Illustrated in Hosea 1-3 – Hoseas love for Gomer B. Calls them to repentance (6:1) - Change C. Never beyond his love & care & willingness to forgive * No matter how stubborn, rebellious & sinful!

Ephraim Is Joined To Idols Let Him Alone I. Gods People Can Turn Astray II. Man Has Free Will – Choice III. Man Is Stubborn IV. Man Faces Consequences For Choices V. Reason Man Sins – He Likes It VI. God Lets Man Go VII. God Still Cares – Calls To Repentance