Reply To: WEEK 4 Minor Prophets Pt 1 (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah)

[Tammy Ahumada]

Hosea – The Prophet who was told by God to marry a prostitute. Not something would would expect to read in the Bible. Far less to hear from God to tell someone to do. But this is what Hosea was told to do and he did so by marring Gomer. He had three children with her and because of her lifestyle, Hosea is not ever sure that these children are his. That concept just blows my mind. God did this to give the Jews a living example of what they are doing to him the the spiritual realm. They were basically committing adultery by choosing to worship foreign gods, the major one being Baal. The Jews must suffer the consequences of their disobedience, but in the end after their suffering God will restore.

Joel- Joel is another Prophet that delivers bad news or a warning to the Jewish people. Joel is telling them the only chance they have is to repent or suffer the consequences the Lord has in store for them. Joel describes and invasion of epic proportions that include locusts…thousands and thousands of them. He compares their size to being warhorses. Yikes! Those things are ugly to begin with and then to give them size like that is frightening. He’s warning Jerusalem of a mighty army that will come against them if they don’t turn from their evil ways. Again, the Lord is telling the people to turn from their wicked ways, he does not want to punish them but they must suffer if they continue on the way they are going. In the end Joel talks of the Jews coming to the senses and God forgiving them and the relationship being restored.

Amos – Amos was commonly called the Poor mans Prophet. Unlike the other prophets mentioned above Amos was a farmer. He calls Amos to travel to the city of Samaria to deliver his prophesies. His judgements are coming against the rich of the nation who are abusing their power, cheating the poor and bribing Judges. Amos announces that the people of Israel have sinned and continue to do so but the Lord will not let this go unpunished. In the end Amos as the above listed prophets do, announces that there will be restoration for Israel but it will come at a cost.

Obadiah – This is the shortest book in the Bible. Obadiah brings judgement on those that think they are untouchable because they hide themselves in the mountains. But he tells them that the Lord can find them and will. Edom is warned that they will suffer for their abuse and inhospitality towards the people of Judah. Like the prophets above Obadiah tells them that the Jews will be restored, and they will be returned from exile and their nation will be rebuilt.

Jonah – Jonah is the only prophet in the bible that rebels against God and he does it twice. There is only one prophecy spoken in this book and it does not come true…Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed. The first rebellion is when God told Jonah to deliver the message to Nineveh and instead he decides to sail off in what we might call today as a “fit”. This did not end well for him as he was thrown overboard and swallowed by a very large fish. The second act of rebellion happens when God does not punish Nineveh as Jonah wises and he end up pouting like a spoiled child when the don’t get their way.

Micah – Micah is another small-town prophet who has a strong connection with the poor and has very strong words for the rich and those that abuse the poor. Like Amos, Micah comes hard against the elite for what they do to the poor and orphans. Micah warns of the destruction if Jewish capitals of Jerusalem and Samaria. In Micah we also find the verse referring to Bethlehem as where the ruler of Israel will be born.