Hosea reviewed the history of Jacob (Israel), looking back at the delight that Jacob provided God to the time of the writing when Israel was disappointing to God. The children of Israel had fallen into habits of treating each other badly. So, like a naughty child, their bad behavior needed to be corrected. They didn't listen to verbal reprimands, so God was going to have to use more forceful methods of discipline. All they had to do was obey God, but they wouldn't.
The more God reached out to the people, the farther from Him they got. The Lord nursed them like a cherished child, but they rebelled against Him. God could not destroy them because He loved them too much.
Both Israel and Judah were not pleasing to God. Jacob cheated his brother before he was born and when he grew up, he wrestled with an angel and asked for a blessing. They needed to stop cheating one another and trust God and show love and justice to each other. Israel would pay for their sins and for insulting God.
The Lord told Hosea that the people were doomed because they would not stop worshiping idols. Time and again He saved their lives and they repaid him by rebelling against Him. The children of Israel would be punished.
Hosea admonished the people to return to God and beg Him for forgiveness. The Lord promised to love the people without limit. He asked them to obey Him and walk together with Him.
Joel
Biblical scholars cannot say for certain when Joel was alive. Some scholars posit that he was a prophet during the reign of Joash of Judah, which would make him one of the earliest writing prophets. Others suggest Joel was current with Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Habakkuk. Some think he was contemporary with the return of the exiles and the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah. While still others believe he might have been one of the latest writing prophets during the Persian period in the decades around 400 B.C. Anyway...
The Lord spoke to Joel with a warning for the people about an army like a swarm of locusts. They would strip the land of everything good so that there was nothing left. The people were in trouble and they needed God's help - now! They needed to fast and pray sincerely for God's help.
Joel told them to sound the trumpets and warn everyone that the judgement day of the Lord is coming soon. There would never again be an army like this one and no one would escape. This day would be so terrible that no one could stand it. It isn't too late to turn to God. The Lord told them not to tear their clothes, but instead to tear their hearts and return to Him. He would reconsider punishing them if they would just do what He asked. The Lord told Joel to tell the priests to cry and pray to God that He would save His people.
Tomorrow read Joel 2:18-end & Amos 1-4
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