Bible Story: Hosea-Malachi
The minor prophets are the 12 books we find at the end of the Old Testament. The term “minor” doesn’t mean they are less important than the “major” prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel. It simply means these books are not as long as the other prophetic books.
Most of the minor prophets lived between 800-400 BC. During this time, Israel and Judah experienced lots of oppression at the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. These nations attacked, destroyed, and pillaged the Israelites’ land, sending many into exile. The prophets served as a way for God to speak to his people.
The reason the Israelites were facing such oppression was because of their own sins. They had fallen away from God and became more wicked than the nations that surrounded them. Instead of being an example for the world, Israel had become the hub for evil.
The prophets warned the people what would happen if they didn’t repent, but they refused to listen. Time after time, the destruction these people prophesied came true, but by then, it was too late. Israel experienced hundreds of years of turmoil during this time, but God remained faithful. God used the nations of Assyria and Babylon as his vehicles for punishment, but he never forgot his chosen people.
The prophets make this clear. In their prophecies, they proclaim judgment but claim hope for the future. Every prophet was different, but one message remained constant. Each one shed light on what God’s will was.
This message is still relevant to us today. The minor prophets and the rest of the Bible show us how to live godly lives and that God is returning for his people and will make everything new. When Jesus returns, the Bible tells us that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. The people who believe in him before he comes will bow to their savior, but the people who refuse to believe (like the people in the minor prophets) will bow to their judge. It is up to us how we will bow.
Key Takeaways:
God’s Will
God is Returning
Every Knee Will Bow
Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be learning about the Minor Prophets, Hosea and Malachi, this Sunday, both in-person and online.
Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.
To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.