Hosea, Amos, Obadiah & Jonah: The prophetic road signs (part 1)

For this week, we are embarking on a "prophetic road trip" with Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah through the years of the northern kingdom of Israel (also identified with the tribe of Ephraim just as the southern kingdom is identified with Judah) before they were overtaken by the Assyrians in 722 BC. The Lord had long warned Israel of judgment, going all the way back to Moses’ stern warning in Deuteronomy 28:62–65. 2 Kings 17:13 summarizes, “Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, 'Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.'"

There are many road signs for us to observe during this trip ahead, unfortunately most of the signs are tragic and very telling of the consequences that accompany a nation and its people who have fallen into the snare of idolatry. Look out for the following signs as we connect the dots through this week's four prophets of the northern kingdom of Israel before the impending Assyrian exile. 

Connecting the dots
HOSEA
Road sign: חֶסֶד (hesed) - Hosea 2:19; 6:4,6.
Throughout Hosea, Yahweh weaves aspect of his covenantal lovingkindness (חֶסֶד) into the prophet's personal life, specifically his marriage to Gomer, the prostitute. It is as if Yahweh wanted Hosea to be more than just a mouthpiece, rather He wanted the prophet to feel the intensity of the divine lovingkindness, the covenantal trait of not only love and compassion but one of unchanging faithfulness and loyalty. "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself." (2 Tim 2:13). When reading through Hosea, look out for the steady signs of God's covenantal faithfulness despite Israel's fickle-mindedness. You will feel Yahweh's חֶסֶד (hesed) for sure!

AMOS
Road sign: "Yet you have not returned to Me" - Amos 4:6,8,9,10,11
Unlike Hosea whose prophetic tone has more of a heartfelt appeal, Amos presents Yahweh's accusations against Israel ("for three transgressions and for four") and the focus is on justice and righteousness (5:23-24). Still, God does not execute His judgment without first sending a prophet - "Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) Chapter 4 is heart-wrenching, Israel is so dull and insensitive toward the signs of God's affliction which are catalysts for repentance. "Yet you have not returned to Me" is the divine refrain of divine grief. The Israelites were definitely religious but they were worshipping the wrong god! Yet, despite the impending exile, there is still the theology of the remnant and future restoration. Yes, judgment will come but so will restoration because God is still faithful.

OBADIAH
Road sign: Jacob and Esau
Obadiah, the shortest book in the OT with only 21 verses showcases one of the longest sibling rivalries - that of Jacob and Esau, going back all the way to Genesis 27 when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob. The focus of Obadiah is not on Israel but the nation of Edom next to Israel and although God gave instruction to Israel not to detest or hate an Edomite because "he is your brother" (Deut 23:7), Edom has been joining foreign nations to attack Jerusalem (v10-11). Hence, Obadiah proclaim that the house of Edom will not escape judgment. God is not only the God of Israel but He also executes judgment for the neighboring nations too.

JONAH
Road sign: "God appointed" (1:17, 4:6-8)
Jonah was not a novice prophet for he had been a prophet to King Jeroboam II (793-753 BC) of the northern kingdom, Israel. In contrast to the gloom and doom message he had for Nineveh, he was the proclaimer of God's blessing during the reign of Jeroboam II. And yet, Jeroboam II ended up committing evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Ki 14:25). Perhaps, Jonah was discouraged with the state of spiritual affairs in Israel that when God called him to Nineveh, he felt that it was not worth his while since King Jeroboam II went bad even after all all the proclaimed blessings. "What's the use?" It is amazing how God appointed "a great fish" (1:17), "a plant" (4:6), "a worm" (4:7), and "a scorching east wind" (4:8) to get through to the prophet Jonah. Here we can see God a work not only through prophecy but being personally concern for the prophet himself. Both the message and the messenger is important to God. 

Activity idea
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb 1:1-2). Though we do not have prophets of old rebuking and admonishing national leaders, Jesus Christ has send us the Holy Spirit who convicts the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-8). When you pray, know that Jesus is not only King and Priest but also Prophet as well and He may very well have a finger on a lingering sin in your life. Be open to consider prayer as a way to hear the Lord's loving message of prophetic discipline as well.

Christ in Scripture
Though a remnant remained in the north, the nation of Israel was under Assyrian rule, and tens of thousands were deported and made servants in Assyria. Further, the Assyrians began to populate Israel with people from other nations they had defeated. The descendants of these foreigners and the remnant of Israel were later simply called “Samaritans.” During the time of Christ, the Samaritans were despised as an “unclean” people because of their mixed ancestry and rejection of temple-based worship.

Enter Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:4-26). What did the woman say to Jesus? "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet" (John 4:19). Imagine this - after so many prophets have been sent to Israel, now the greatest prophet of them all, Jesus Christ, the Son of God appears - speaking not to a king but to a simple woman, drawing water at the well. The northern kingdom had wanted to set up their own temple to draw the allegiance of the people away from Jerusalem in the south but now One greater than the north and the south is here! The God of Israel is now here not to re-establish a physical temple of worship but to seek for true worshippers. The exile is ended because the Messiah has arrived, God who spoke many times through mediated prophets now shows up and say, "I who speak to you am He." (John 4:26). He is now Immanuel, God with us (Matt 1:23). Praise be to God!

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