"The Worst Trade Ever"

Part 2 of a series titled "To Know Him: The Book of Hosea"

 

The BIG Idea:

 

Though Israel sought to be connected to God, their Sinful behavior prevent them from finding God

and knowing God. To seek God with our whole heart requires a repentance from all our sin and

idolatry, which competes with our worship of the one true God.

Then the Lord said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet is committing adultery, as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." ² So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a (dry measurement of) homer and a lethech of barley. ³ Then I said to her, "You shall live with me for many days. You shall not play the prostitute, nor shall you have another man; so I will also be toward you." ⁴ For the sons of Israel will live for many days without a king or leader, without sacrifice or memorial stone, and without ephod or household idols. ⁵ Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. - Hosea 3:1-5 (NASB)

A Prayer to Begin the Message:

 

"Holy God, like baskets of summer fruit, You fill our lives to overflowing. May our response to the Word of God show our commitment to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and to reflect our gratitude for Your many blessings. It is our hope and prayer that this world may come to know the richness of Your love through our response to Your Word today. We pray this in the sacred and holy name of Jesus the Christ. Amen."

 

Part 1 Recap:

 

Whenever we choose to draw near to God, God promises that God will draw near to us.

 

The closer we are to God and the more time we spend in the presence of God; the more we learn about God's character and know the heart of God. If we desire to know God with an ever-deepening intimacy, we must be intentional to draw near to God each day. If we want to know the heart of God, we must spend time knowing the Lord.

 

ILLUSTRATION: Two of the worse trades in baseball history (Ryne Sandberg & Babe Ruth)

 

Regretfully trading something of value is not just a modern-day struggle that we are learning to navigate.

 

-        Adam & Eve (Genesis 3:4-7)

-        Jacob & Esau (Genesis 25:29-34)

-        Israel and the one true God (Hosea)

God desires for God's people to return to a faithful covenant relationship and to know God.

Israel's ongoing idolatrous behavior not only prevented them from returning to the relationship that God desire, but their defilement demonstrated they did not know God.

We can, like Israel, struggle with spiritual infidelity that fails to keep our hearts pure and solely worshiping God.

 

"Whatever we treasure more than God, whatever drives our thoughts and actions, becomes an idol, and these idols dull our spiritual hearing and harden our hearts to the things of God."

- Jennifer Slattery (Resisting Modern Idols, 2024)

 

"An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give."

-- Tim Keller (Counterfeit Gods, 2009)

 

Common idols of 2025: Self, Security, Approval, Relationships, Success, Wealth, Health, Food, Intellect, Sports/Hobbies, and Comfort.

 

Hosea learned a lot about the nature of sin.

 

-        Sin is a selfish rebellion against God.

-        Sin is a grief-bringing action.

-        Sin is a separation situation.

 

Hosea learned about the grace-filled nature of God.

 

-        God does not give up on God's creation and longs to be reconciled to us.

-        God has a loving and grace-filled attitude toward sinners.

-        God restores human beings as we choose to turn back to God.

 

Genuine repentance requires words and actions.

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. -- Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

Have you ever sold or traded something that you later regretted? Why do you wish that you still had that item? What was it that you sold or traded the item for?

 

Do you own an item that you would never trade or sell? Why do you value it so greatly?

 

What would you consider to be your highest priority in life right now?

 

Where are you finding your peace and security in life these days?

 

Why was it such a BIG deal that the Hebrews were unfaithful to God?

 

What does it look like to seek God with our whole heart?

 

What makes confession and repentance important practices for a follower of Jesus?