Heart Prep:
Although God had been faithful to the people of Israel, they were not faithful to God. God warned Israel of their unfaithfulness and showed His faithful love through the prophet Hosea. Though Israel was disobedient, God wanted to show a picture of His great love and relentless pursuit of His people through Hosea’s life. God instructed Hosea to marry Gomer, who would not be faithful to him. Hosea obeyed God and married Gomer. As God said, she was unfaithful to Hosea and left their family. In the same way, the Israelites were unfaithful to God, worshiping idols, acting corruptly, and loving violence. However, God’s love did not relent, and He promised a day when He would forgive and restore them. To show the Israelites the depth of His love, God told Hosea to show love to Gomer, even though she had chosen a life of adultery. Again, Hosea obeyed God. He paid the debts Gomer owed and brought her back home to their family. On the cross, Jesus paid our debt of sin, restoring our relationship with God so we might be with Him forever. Even when believers act unfaithfully, Jesus continues to be faithful and show unending love. Encourage boys and girls to ask Jesus for forgiveness and praise Him for His unfailing love. God promised to be faithful to Israel, and He continues to be faithful to us. Point children to God’s promises to Israel and the way these words of hope echo into Jesus’ promises to followers of Christ to heal them, love them, and not be angry with them (Hosea 14:4).
Message:
Israel was not faithful to God. They worshiped other gods, sinned by disobeying Him, and looked to other nations to help them in times of trouble. God wanted to show His people a picture of how much He loved and wanted to be with them, even though they had been unfaithful to Him. He spoke to His prophet Hosea, saying, “Go and marry a woman who will not be faithful to you, and be committed to her.” Hosea followed God’s direction and married a woman named Gomer. They had three children together. Sadly, Gomer was not faithful to Hosea and left the family. Gomer’s unfaithfulness to Hosea was like Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. Israel had taken the grain, oil, silver, and wine that God had given to them, and had used it to worship Baal. They pursued false gods and looked to other nations to save them. But God still loved Israel and forgave them for their lack of faithfulness. To show Israel how much He loved them, God told Hosea to go get Gomer back. “Show love to Gomer, even though she hasn’t shown love to you, just as I have loved the Israelites.” Hosea obeyed God. He paid back what Gomer owed others and brought her back to live with him, and she agreed. Hosea pled with the Israelites to come back to God, just as Gomer had come back to Hosea. Hosea reminded Israel of how God had loved Israel like a child, providing and caring for their every need. But he also told the people that there would be consequences for their sin. He said, “Come, Israel, return to the Lord, for you have stumbled in sin. Repent and turn away and return to the Lord. Ask him for forgiveness and praise him. No one else can save us but God.” Through Hosea, God promised to be faithful to Israel. God also said that one day His people would seek the Lord their God. “I will heal them,” said God, “I will love them. I will not be angry with them anymore.”
Main Point:
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.
Discussion:
Is every person unfaithful to God? Why?
Tell kids that yes, every person is unfaithful to God. We all sin, choosing to reject God and His ways. Discuss how we sometimes willfully disobey God, knowing what is right but choosing to do what is wrong. Share how we also sin by not being able to perfectly live up to God’s standards, even when we try our very best. Remind kids that through Adam and Eve, sin has spread to all people. Read Romans 5:12 together.
How can we be faithful to God?
Discuss how we can only be faithful to God by trusting in Jesus, who was always faithful. Tell kids that we will never be perfectly faithful until Jesus returns, but through Jesus, we are counted as righteous because His faithfulness is given to us. Remind kids that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and helps us to follow God’s ways. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-25 together.
How has God shown faithfulness to you, even when you’ve sinned?
Answers will vary. Remind kids that God is faithful, and He has shown perfect faithfulness through Jesus. Discuss how God’s promises will never fail. Those who have trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord can know that God will accomplish everything He has promised: salvation from sin, eternal life, peace, joy, wisdom, provision, goodness, and so on. Read 1 Corinthians 1:9 together.
