Hosea and Joel
LESSON #1 A DOOR OF HOPE (Hosea)
TRUTH:
When we return to the Lord, He receives us with mercy and offers healing.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
One reason I’m excited for you to teach this lesson is that there may be someone in your class who’s wondering whether the Lord still wants them close. Perhaps they’ve struggled with the same weakness for years, or they’ve made choices that leave them ashamed or feeling unworthy of his love and blessings. The book of Hosea gives you an opportunity to help them hear the Lord’s loving invitation to anybody and everybody to return to him, regardless of what they’ve done in the past. And who knows, maybe someone will leave your class with the courage to begin again. That’s a meaningful opportunity to have as a teacher.
WHAT THE TEACHER SHOULD KNOW:
First, Hosea. Who was he? Hosea prophesied in the Northern Kingdom of Israel around the time of Jeroboam II until the reign of King Hoshea. And in his book, you see Hosea attempt to help his people recognize their offenses and to turn back to God. He sought to reassure them of his love for them and willingness to accept them back into his good graces. Unfortunately, Hosea was unsuccessful in turning the people back to God, and ultimately, Israel is conquered and lost. But his message remains for all of us as we consider our own relationship to Christ and his constant beckoning for us to commit ourselves to Him.
Well, marriage is the key metaphor and backdrop to this book of scripture. In fact, the book of Hosea begins with a marriage. But it’s not your typical marriage story. God commands Hosea to marry a certain kind of woman. And, it’s a bit shocking. What kind of woman does God command Hosea to marry? The answer is in Hosea 1:2, which says:
2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.
So, he’s asked to marry a wife of whoredoms. That means, he wanted him to marry someone who had lived a less than chaste life up to that point. Now there is some debate as to exactly how this worked. There’s not a lot of detail given here so we want to be careful not to speculate too much. Was he really asking him to marry a prostitute? Or a woman who he knew had a checkered moral past? Maybe. However, another theory is that perhaps this book is written after the fact, and this just happened to be what Hosea had already personally experienced with his wife. He marries her and she’s unfaithful to him. Either way we look at it, we know that Hosea marries a woman named Gomer in verse 3 who eventually commits adultery. So the Lord encourages him to use his own marriage as an example of what, metaphorically, the people have done to Him.
Now that teaches us an important principle right at the outset. The fact that he uses marriage as the metaphor suggests how Christ views and feels about us as his disciples. It’s a marriage. He loves us like a spouse. We’re that close to him. It’s a special relationship. Covenants of long-term commitment have been made between Him and us.
But, in this story, a problem develops in the relationship between Gomer and Hosea which spiritually mirrors the relationship between Christ and the Israelites.
Hosea 2:5.
5 For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers . . .
If Gomer’s adultery represents Israel’s relationship with the Lord, what is He saying about His people? They’ve committed spiritual adultery—turning from Him to other gods. Marriage includes a covenant to be faithful to our spouse. Likewise, through baptism, the sacrament, and temple covenants, we commit ourselves to Christ. When we turn our hearts toward other “lovers”—such as pride, materialism, lust, or greed—we compromise that covenant relationship.
And before we look at what happens to us when we turn from Christ, let’s consider the effect that it has on Him. That’s one of the unique perspectives Hosea gives us here. We start to get a sense of how Christ feels when we turn from him.
Hosea 2:13 is particularly heartbreaking.
13 And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the Lord.
Can you imagine that? This is from the perspective of a husband. How would you feel if you passed by the bathroom and you saw your wife getting all dressed up in her nicest clothes, putting on her makeup, and jewelry, and making herself as beautiful as possible, but then you have a horrible realization. She’s not doing it for you. No, she’s going out. She’s going after her lovers and has forgotten about you. This may give us just an inkling of how Christ feels when we turn from his path. It’s painful for him.
But eventually, Gomer comes to the realization that her lovers don’t really love her. The consequences of her actions start to reveal themselves. The initial rush of excitement of those illicit relationships wears off and she realizes something:Hosea 2:7
7 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.
So she wants to come back.
Eventually, I believe that all who flirt with the world will come to realize this at some point in their eternal progress. “For then was it better with me than now.” In time, sooner or later, all will conclude that life is better within the covenant. I mean, you don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone. For a time we may be prone to that “grass is always greener on the other side” notion. But it doesn’t last. We too will come to realize that Christ provides us with all we ever need. All the fulfillment, purpose, nourishing, direction, and happiness we desire are available from him. So we decide to return to our first husband. That’s the solution. What’s the gospel word we use to describe that process? It’s called repentance. Turning our hearts back to Christ. Remembering our former relationship with him and desiring to return.
But let’s shift our focus away from Gomer for a moment and focus back on Hosea again. Put yourself in his shoes. How would you react to Gomer coming back, asking for forgiveness and to be your wife again? After you’ve been cheated on. After you’ve had the experience of seeing her deck herself out, but not for you. Would you take her back? Or women, would you take a husband back, if he did something similar to you? I’m not sure what I would do in that situation. I imagine there would be many who would not consider continuing the relationship and I don’t think I’d fault them for that decision either. I believe they would be justified in leaving that part of their life behind. I believe that’s what the average man or woman would do in that situation. But look what the Lord says in Hosea 11:8-9 included here with the JST translation:
8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned (toward thee, and my mercies are extended to gather thee).
9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
So what is the Lord willing to do with unfaithful Israel? His heart turns back towards them, and he extends his mercy to them. He doesn’t execute the fierceness of his anger. He forgives and takes her back. And why? Because he’s not a man, he’s a God, and gods don’t do what the average person does. He IS the kind of being that can forgive, even in this circumstance.
Now read 2:14-20. The most beautiful verses in this book of scripture. There’s so much hope for the penitent here. He says:
14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope:
Oh, isn’t that a great synonym for repentance? It’s a door of hope! Christ always leaves that door open for us.
and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
16 And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.
Wow! Now that is amazing. Not only will he accept her back, but he will allure her back, and speak comfortably to her. It’s an alluring love that Christ has for his people. A speaking comfortably kind of love. I imagine that most people, even if they did decide to remain in a marriage in that circumstance, might forever hold that over their head, or maintain a resentment or distrust for that person. But not Christ. He allures, speaks comfortably, and betroths her again in righteousness.
I love the sentiment in verse 16. It says that she will call him Ishi from that day forward and no more Baali. Now look down in the footnotes there at what those two words mean. She will call him “My husband” and not “my master”. And that’s a really good question to ask ourselves. How do we see Christ? What type of relationship is it? Do we view him as a master? Are we just servants doing his bidding because he’s in charge? Or do we view Him as a husband? Someone that we love. The things we do for him we do out of love, loyalty, and a desire to serve him. We have a relationship of love and faith, not fear and obligation.
Hosea is one of those books that just overflows with the message of Christ’s love for us and the extent of his mercy. Gomer is the female version of the prodigal son. And just as the father in that story embraces and welcomes his wayward son back home, Hosea betroths and allures her back into his loving arms. That should tell us all something about how Christ feels about each and every one of us. He loves us. And if we ever find ourselves in a situation where we have proven “unfaithful” to him, if we repent and return, he will always welcome us back with open arms because he is a God, and not a man.
ICEBREAKER:
Time: 2-3 Min
Since the main metaphor of this lesson is marriage, I like to begin with an icebreaker that gets them thinking about the nature of that relationship. So I’d display the following words on the board or a slide: Trust, Humor, Faithfulness, Patience, Attraction, Kindness, Shared Interests, Forgiveness, Commitment, and Communication. Then ask your students to imagine they’re choosing the three qualities they feel are most important in a strong, lasting marriage. And there isn’t one correct combination here. Give them about twenty seconds to choose, then invite them to briefly compare their choices with a neighbor. If you like, you could take a couple of responses, asking them to explain one of their selections. Keep the activity to about two or three minutes. Then transition by saying something like, “These qualities help us picture what makes a marriage strong and beautiful. Well, in Hosea, the Lord uses marriage to help us understand His covenant relationship with His people. Keep the qualities you chose in mind as we discover what this relationship teaches us about Him.”
BACKGROUND:
Time: 1 Min
Here I would offer some brief background to Hosea’s situation. He’s a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The people are wicked, and Hosea’s main message is one of repentance. He continually seeks to turn his people back to Christ with a promise that he will receive them back in mercy and protect them from their enemies.
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
Time: 1 Min
So to help them understand their relationship to him, God invites Hosea to use his own life as an object lesson. The book of Hosea begins with a marriage. But surprisingly, what kind of woman does God ask Hosea to marry in Hosea 1:2?
Here they’ll discover that he’s asked to marry an unchaste woman. And you can explain what that may or may not mean like we discussed above.
TEACHER SUMMARY:
Time: 3 Min
But I might then just summarize the majority of the situation and story here as the teacher, because it’s the nature of Christ’s mercy and willingness to take her back that we want to spend most of the brief time that we have here.
So take them to Hosea 2:5 to explain her eventual adultery, then 2:13 for that heartbreaking image of her getting herself ready to go out after her lovers. And then her eventual decision to return back to Hosea, when she realizes that her lovers don’t really love her. Read them 2:7 to show her decision to return to her first husband because she realizes that “then was it better with me than now.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Time: 2-3 Min
Now I would ask them a pondering question. One that I wouldn’t have them answer out loud. But to just put themselves into Hosea’s shoes. Would you take Gomer back? After she’s been unfaithful to you. After you’ve watched her get herself ready to go out after her lovers instead of you. Why or why not?
And then, to help remind them that this is a metaphor, not just story, explain that this is the book of Hosea’s way of helping us to consider our own relationship with Christ. Are we still committed to Him? Are we honoring our covenant relationship with Him? Hopefully yes. And if so, continue to do that! But if not, how will He react if we wish to come back? That’s the big question.
Then ask:
When we recognize that we’ve turned away from the Lord, what might make us hesitate to return?
Take a couple of brief responses. And they may mention shame, fear of rejection, or feeling that they’ve made the same mistake too many times.
SEARCH ACTIVITY:Time: 6-7 min
Then say, “Well, let’s let the Lord speak for Himself. What does He want us to understand about how He’ll receive us if we wish to return?”
Have them read Hosea 11:8–9, with the JST clarification, looking for their answer. And they should see it. He takes them back, because he is a God, and not man.
Then our final search comes from those beautiful verses back in chapter 2. Ask:
In 2:14-20 God reveals how he will take us back when we return to Him. What’s your favorite verse and why?
Have them read, then let them share. You may need to help them out a little with the names Ishi and Baali in verse 16, but the majority of the discussion should come from the connections that your students make. They’ll see them. But if “the door of hope” idea isn’t mentioned by anyone, I would be sure to direct their attention there as the teacher at some point during the discussion.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
Time: 2 min
Ponder how you might meaningfully apply the message of today’s lesson.
Some suggestions from a number of different situations:If you’ve turned away, begin returning. Tell the Lord where you are, ask for forgiveness, and take one concrete step toward repentance—including seeking help from your bishop when needed.
If you’ve repented but still feel ashamed, make room for His reassurance. Choose a promise from Hosea to revisit when guilt returns. Ask the Lord to help you accept His forgiveness and distinguish needed correction from continued self-condemnation.
If you’re a dedicated disciple, continue to intentionally honor the relationship. Identify one covenant commitment you want to live more fully this week. Let your faithfulness be a conscious expression of love for Christ.
If someone you love has wandered, reflect the Lord’s welcoming love. Reach out with sincere affection, listen, and help them know they matter to you. Keep your invitation warm and respect their agency.
TAKEAWAY:
Time: 2 min
To conclude, display the takeaway slide and say something along these lines:
Today we’ve heard the Lord speak to people who had been unfaithful to Him. And we’ve heard an invitation to return, promises of mercy, and an offer of healing. Hosea called it a door of hope. I love that image because it gives us somewhere to go when we recognize that something needs to change. I pray that we’ll all remember this image if we ever get to the point where we feel we’ve turned away from him and wonder if he’d ever want us back. But you can always have confidence in the character of the Savior you’re approaching. The Lord always invites us back with open arms because He loves us regardless of what we’ve done in the past.
OPTIONAL LESSON IDEAS:
VIDEO:
Another way you could introduce this lesson is with the short Church video “Lasting Marriage.” It’s a humorous look at a couple who’ve been married for forty-seven years and how they’ve handled their disagreements. After showing it, you could ask, “What qualities do you think help a marriage last through difficult times?”
QUOTE:
If you want to deepen your students’ understanding of the metaphor of marriage for our relationship with the Savior, you could share the following quote from President Eyring. He said:
“For more reasons than I can explain, during those days teaching Hosea, I felt something new, something more powerful. This was not a story about a business deal between partners. … This was a love story. This was a story of a marriage covenant bound by love, by steadfast love. What I felt then, and it has increased over the years, was that the Lord, with whom I am blessed to have made covenants, loves me, and you … with a steadfastness about which I continually marvel and which I want with all my heart to emulate.” (“Covenants and Sacrifice” [address given at the Church Educational System Symposium on the Old Testament, Aug. 15, 1995])
HANDOUT:
If you’d like to give your students a place to record their discoveries, I’ve provided a simple “A Door of Hope” handout. Pass it out before the final two scripture searches and let them complete it as you go. First, they’ll identify what Hosea 11:8–9 reveals about the Lord’s heart. Then, as they study Hosea 2:14–20, they’ll choose a phrase that gives them hope and explain what it helps them understand about Him. The final section brings it home: “Because of what I’ve learned about the Lord, this week I will…” Give them a quiet minute to consider their response, and remind them that their answers are personal. The hope is that they’ll leave with a promise to remember and a step they’re ready to take.
LESSON #2 HOSEA’S PICTURE GALLERY (Hosea)
If I were to teach only one lesson from Hosea, the previous one would probably be it. But I’d like to give you another option as well. Perhaps some of you will have additional opportunities to teach. This lesson uses a different approach to examine some of the excellent imagery Hosea uses to help us understand the nature of our relationship with God.
TRUTH:
We strengthen our relationship with the Lord as we remain faithful, seek His guidance, heed His warnings, and receive His care.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
One thing I love about Hosea is the pictures he uses, the visuals that he gives us to carry around in our minds. These images can stay with us long after the lesson concludes. Our opportunity as teachers in this lesson is to help those pictures to become more personal. Someone may recognize an influence that’s quietly weakening their faith. Someone else may realize that they’ve been looking everywhere for guidance except to the Lord. And as you finish, help them see what His care can make possible. We want them to leave with a clearer understanding of their relationship with Him.
WHAT THE TEACHER SHOULD KNOW:
So remember that Hosea is prophesying to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and
this was a group of people who were choosing to worship other gods and seeking security through relationships with surrounding nations. The images that Hosea uses here have a number of different purposes. Some of them expose their unfaithfulness, others are used to warn of its consequences, and then some are there to offer hope and an opportunity to return and repent. So, I’ll go ahead and walk you through each of those images with a few thoughts on their meaning.
Hosea 6:4:
4 ¶ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
The symbol here is morning dew. And Hosea is comparing the people’s faithfulness to it. Well, what happens to dew as the sun rises? It disappears! It’s fleeting, ephemeral. So this verse is emphasizing just how quickly Israel’s goodness is going away. What God desires from them and from us is enduring faithfulness. The kind of faithfulness that doesn’t disappear as soon as things get difficult or temptation arises.
Hosea 7:7-8:
7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
This is such a good one. Maybe my favorite. Here, temptation, lust, and wickedness are compared to heat, and Ephraim is like a pancake, a “cake not turned!” Well, if you’ve ever made pancakes before, what happens if you leave them on the griddle too long without being turned? They start to burn on one side making them unpalatable. Well that’s what’s happening with the kingdom of Israel. Their ardent lust is burning them and they’re going bad. And what causes a pancake and a people to go bad? Neglect. We burn the pancakes because we’re not paying attention. We’re too distracted by other things instead of being focused on the task at hand. Well do we ever get that way spiritually? Do we become neglectful and begin to procrastinate our duties? Do we get distracted with other concerns and worldly entertainments? What happens to our faith, our character, and commitment? It starts to go bad.
Hosea 7:10-11
10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.
11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
So for this one, picture a frightened bird fluttering from one place to another, trying to find somewhere safe. That helps me picture what Hosea’s describing here. Israel is worried, and they’re looking for protection. Maybe Egypt can help us! Or perhaps Assyria! They’re moving, making arrangements, and seeking powerful allies. But look at verse 10. Who aren’t they seeking? The Lord. That’s what makes the dove comparison meaningful. They’re looking for security without the discernment to recognize where they should place their trust. And that gives us something to consider. When we’re frightened or uncertain, we can become so busy looking for answers that we forget to seek the Lord’s guidance in choosing them. Are we sometimes like “silly doves” fluttering around looking for help and safety in all the wrong places?
Hosea 13:6-9
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
The problem with the people highlighted here is in verse 6. They have forgotten God. But notice what led to that. They were filled. They were doing well. And their hearts became exalted. And that’s something I believe we all need to watch for. We can enjoy the Lord’s blessings so much that we forget the One who gave them to us. So what are they going to encounter in their path? Lions, and leopards, and bears, oh my! These are the consequences of forgetting God. And I can see these verses leading to a fruitful discussion about the nature of God or Jesus Christ when we sin, or forget him. I know sometimes people struggle with the Old Testament portrayal of Jehovah because of verses like this. Seems to say, “Because you’ve forgotten me, I’m going to send wild animals to destroy and tear you apart”. And certainly, we don’t believe in a teddy bear Jesus. Yes, he is a God of love and mercy. But he’s also a God of justice and expectation. His love doesn’t mean He’ll treat our unfaithfulness as harmless or continually shield us from its consequences. But at the same time, I’m not sure that’s the real spirit of these verses. What I think he’s portraying here is the kind of thing that happens to us as a result of our sins. Sin always seems to attract the lions, the leopards, and the bears of misfortune and unhappiness. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I don’t believe that God punishes us so much for our sins as we are punished by our sins. When we walk away from him, he isn’t there to protect us from the attack. And that’s what happens to Israel when the Assyrians come. They’ve forgotten and abandoned God, and therefore, He’s not there to protect them. They walked away from him, and not vice versa. So the question might be, how are the consequences of sin like wild animals? Well, dangerous animals deserve to be taken seriously. You wouldn’t approach a wild bear thinking, ‘I can handle this. Nothing’s going to happen to me.’ Yet sometimes that’s how we approach temptation. We assume we can control how far things go and walk away whenever we want. But the consequences of sin can become much more than we anticipated. A lie grows into more lies. Anger damages a relationship. A dishonest choice destroys trust. And sometimes other people are wounded too. Don’t underestimate the danger of something the Lord has warned us about.
But still, considering all of that, look at what he says in verse 9. Even alongside this serious warning, the Lord identifies Himself as their source of help. It’s not too late. They can still turn to him for protection and help.
Hosea 14:5–7
5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
Now let’s finish with a much more hopeful picture. In these verses, the Lord describes what His people can become as they return to Him. And notice what makes that growth possible. “I will be as the dew unto Israel.” We’ve seen dew before, haven’t we? Back in chapter 6, Israel’s goodness was like dew because it disappeared so quickly. But here, a different quality of dew is emphasized. That’s the nature of symbols. They can mean different things in different contexts. Here, dew supplies moisture. It nourishes growing things. That’s what the Lord offers His people. And what happens as they receive His care? Look at the words Hosea uses. They grow. They put down roots. Their branches spread. They revive. There’s beauty and fruitfulness. What a contrast to the earlier pictures! And I love that he includes both the lily and the roots. We have a picture of beauty, but also of strength and stability. That’s something for us to consider in our own relationship with the Lord. What might His influence be helping to grow in us? Greater patience? Deeper faith? More compassion? Strength to remain faithful when things are difficult? These verses give us a hopeful picture of the life He can nurture in us. So as you teach, help your students see more than the things they need to change. Help them picture what they can become as they seek the Lord and receive what He provides.
So, great images that help us to understand a number of gospel principles.
ICEBREAKER:
Time: 3 Min
For this lesson, I’d let the unusual pictures themselves be the icebreaker.
First, ask:If someone asked you to describe your relationship with the Lord using a picture, what might you choose?
Take a few responses, but don’t dwell too long on this activity. Then say:
Well, Hosea uses some comparisons we probably wouldn’t have thought of. Today we’re going to visit a little picture gallery. Every picture that he displays to us has something important to teach us. So here are the images.
Then you display the following picture with Hosea’s images:
MORNING DEWA BURNT PANCAKEA CONFUSED DOVE
AN ANGRY BEARA FLOURISHING PLANT
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
Time: 12-13 Min
For the search activity, first give the brief context:
“Hosea is speaking to covenant Israel. The people are turning from the Lord and putting their trust in other gods and nations. He uses familiar things to help them recognize what’s happening.”
Then I’d assign each student one of the five pictures to study. You could simply number them off from one to five. They can study individually, or work with a neighbor who has the same assignment. Either way, everyone has a particular picture to examine and something to contribute when you bring the class back together.
Display the assignments:
1. MORNING DEW — Hosea 6:42. A BURNT PANCAKE — Hosea 7:7-83. A CONFUSED DOVE — Hosea 7:10–114. AN ANGRY BEAR — Hosea 13:6–95. A FLOURISHING PLANT — Hosea 14:5–7
Then give everyone the same two questions to consider:
1. What does Hosea’s comparison help us understand about Israel or the Lord?
2. How could that image relate to us in our day?
You could introduce the assignment by saying:
“Your job is to help us understand your picture. Look carefully at the verses, because Hosea often gives us clues right around the comparison. Then be ready to explain what you think it teaches and how it could be relevant to us. There may be more than one worthwhile application, but make sure your explanation connects with what the scripture actually says.
Give them about three minutes to study and as they work, move around and help where needed. Then bring everyone back together and work through the gallery in order. For each image, invite students to share what they discovered. As they share, be prepared to add your own insights from the teacher-background section to deepen their understanding. And I’d be sure to save the flourishing plant image for last, so the gallery ends with hope.
Then bring the activity together:
“Well, these pictures have given us quite a bit to consider. Some help us recognize things that can weaken our faithfulness. Others warn us to take our choices seriously. And this final picture helps us see what the Lord can nurture in us as we seek and rely on Him. Now let’s consider which of these pictures has a message we personally need to remember.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
Time: 3 min
For the take it to heart portion of the lesson say:
“Look back over our gallery. Which picture gives you something important to consider about your own relationship with the Lord?”
You could then even offer a few suggestions on how they might apply each image:
For the dew:
Perhaps you want to follow through on a spiritual impression while it’s still fresh.
For the burnt pancake:
Perhaps there’s an influence you have in your life that you need to reconsider.
For the dove:
Perhaps you need to bring a concern to the Lord that you’ve been trying to manage entirely on your own.
For the lions, leopards, and bears:
Perhaps there’s a choice you’ve been excusing whose consequences you need to take more seriously, and a step you can take now to change course.And for the flourishing plant:Perhaps you want to receive His nourishment more deliberately through prayer, scripture study, or service.
TAKEAWAY:
Time: 2 min
To conclude, display the slide with all five images and say something like:
Well, which of Hosea’s pictures will you carry with you this week? Perhaps the dew will remind you to follow through on something the Spirit has prompted you to do. Maybe the burnt pancake will help you notice an influence that’s weakening your devotion. The dove might remind you to seek the Lord’s guidance with a concern you’re facing. And those wild animals can remind us to take His warnings seriously and change course when we need to.
But I hope we’ll all remember the flourishing plant. That’s the hopeful picture Hosea leaves us with—people growing, taking root, and becoming fruitful under the Lord’s care. He can help that growth happen in us. So choose one message from this gallery and act on it this week. As we seek and rely on the Lord, He can strengthen our faith and help our relationship with Him grow.
OPTIONAL LESSON IDEAS:
HANDOUT:
If you’d like to give your students something to work with during the assigned scripture search, I’ve provided a half-page handout for each of the five images. Each one includes the scripture passage, the two questions to consider, and space to record their thoughts. There’s also a short “A little help” section that explains unfamiliar words or gives a bit of context without doing all the interpreting for them. The sheets print with two copies of the same assignment on each page, so print the number you need and cut them in half. Then give each student their assigned image and allow a few minutes to study, either individually or with someone who has the same assignment. Encourage them to jot down a few ideas rather than worry about writing polished answers. When you bring the class back together, move through the gallery and invite students to explain their picture, what it teaches, and how it could help us strengthen our relationship with the Lord.
LESSON #3 DIFFICULT DAYS, WONDERFUL PROMISES (Joel)
OK, the book of Joel. A much shorter book of scripture. Only three chapters long, but there’s a powerful message in those chapters, specifically for those of us who live in the latter days.
TRUTH:
Even though the last days will be difficult, the Lord offers His Spirit, strength, and hope to the righteous.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
One reason I’m excited for you to teach Joel is that there may be someone in your class who feels much more afraid of the future than hopeful about it. They hear about wars, disasters, and the events preceding the Second Coming, and wonder how they’re going to manage. Joel gives you an opportunity to help them discover the Lord’s promises in the middle of those concerns. He offers His Spirit. He invites us to call on Him. He promises to be our hope and strength. As you teach, help your students feel that divine help is available to them. Someone may leave your class still facing the same uncertainties, but with a clearer understanding of whom they can trust.
WHAT THE TEACHER SHOULD KNOW:
So first, just a little bit about Joel himself because we really don’t know that much about him. We know that he was a prophet that prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah. But we’re not exactly sure when he prophesied. Still, more importantly, we do know that he was very “latter-day” focused and has some critical things to teach us about the Second Coming. Specifically, he’s going to answer three important questions for us.
What will conditions on the earth be like preceding the Second Coming?
What will happen to the wicked and the righteous?
What should we do about it?
So first, the events that usher in the Second Coming. In Joel, there are details that appear in every chapter. And they’re varied. But there is one specific sign and destructive element that seems to appear more than any other. And that is the imagery of war. Joel prophesies that the world will be destroyed by war preceding Christ’s return. In the book of Revelation, John refers to this great final battle as Armageddon. If you read the entire first chapter of Joel, you’ll find that it’s one long description of the land being decimated by a locust invasion and a drought. But he compares this destruction of the land to the destruction caused by the great final battle of the last days. Joel 2:1-11 also vividly describes this “locust invasion” of sorts. For example, take a look at verse three where it talks about the Garden of Eden being before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness. So this swarm just moves forward devouring anything green in its path. And then read verses 7-9 and see if you can picture what is happening here.
7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
Can you just see that swarm attacking a city, getting in everything, crawling up the walls, pouring through the windows. Trying to fight them would be pointless. Well that’s what war does. It destroys and consumes everything in its path. Terrifying.
With that in mind, sometimes my students have expressed distress and worry about the Second Coming. It sounds so scary and terrible in the scriptures sometimes. But I try to reassure them that the righteous need not fear. In fact, we can look forward to that day. Yes, things will get bad, for the wicked, but things will be amazing and great for the righteous. Just look at Joel 2:21. He says: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.” The latter days are an incredible time to be alive! The Lord will do “great things” for us. What are some of those things?
Joel 2:26-29
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28)
Some great promises in there. We will eat in plenty and be satisfied, we won’t be ashamed. God will deal wondrously with us, He will be in our midst, and we won’t be ashamed. Then these magnificent verses.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Those two verses are quoted to Joseph Smith by Moroni when he’s visited three times in one night by him. And certainly this has taken place and is continuing to take place. These are some great verses for the youth to hear, because it talks about the young men and the handmaids seeing visions and having the Spirit poured out upon them. And I love that word “pour”. You can just visualize this deluge of spirit cascading from the heavens. And I’ve witnessed this firsthand as a seminary teacher. Our youth do have the spirit poured out upon them. I hear them testify of it frequently. We live in a day when we have so much access to things of a spiritual nature. Scriptures, prophets, temples, manuals, church, lessons, FSY, young men’s and young women’s, Elders quorum, Relief Society, the church website, hymns, and on, and on, and on. We are witnesses to this great outpouring of the Spirit.Then, I absolutely love Joel 3:1616 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
So even though there is some shaking going on in the world, the Lord will bring HOPE and STRENGTH to his people.
Well, what should we do so that we will be included in that blessed group of God’s people? Some highlights:
Joel 1:14
14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,
Joel 2:12-13
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Joel 2:15-16
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation . . .
So fast, pray, turn to God with all your heart, gather together with other righteous people. Those that are willing to do these things are promised something.
Joel 2:32
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
They will be safe. They will not suffer the fate of the wicked.
ICEBREAKER:
Time: 3 min
So for an icebreaker, I like to do the following activity. I like to present them with a number of “How will it end?” scenarios. So I give them a few situations and ask them how they feel those situations are going to turn out? For example, depending on when and where you teach this lesson, you can ask them how they feel a certain sports season is going to end. So here in Utah, I might ask. How is BYU or the University of Utah’s football season going to end? And just let them share. Will they be champions? Or will they lose? Will they go to a bowl game? Which one? Political questions can work here. Who do you think will win the next presidential election or senate race? Will Republicans or Democrats come out on top. If you’re teaching students, how do they think their quarter will end? Will they pass? Will they get good grades? Are the tests going to be hard? If there’s a popular movie franchise out at the time. How do they think the series will end? Will the leading man and woman get married? Is someone going to die? Will they win the last battle? Any way you do it, be sure to conclude with this final question. What about the world? How is it going to end? Or at least, the world as we know it. Is it going to end in nuclear holocaust? A giant meteor colliding with the earth? Global warming? Famine? Drought?
The book of Joel in the Old Testament has something to say about that.
SEARCH ACTIVITY:
Time: 3 min
To begin, I would just do a quick scripture search where you invite everyone to just quickly choose some of the verses listed below and ask: According to these verses what are some of the things that will happen to the earth just before Christ returns? As a teacher, write their answers on the board. So we’ve got:
1:10 Famine
2:2 Darkness and gloominess
2:10 The earth shaking, the heavens trembling, the sun, moon, and stars turning dark.
2:30 Blood, fire, smoke.
3:9-10 War
If you had time, here you could zero in on the idea of war being the major cleansing element of the last days and perhaps even show them the locust imagery found in chapter 2. War is like a locust invasion. It destroys everything in its path. And all of those signs mentioned above, really, can in some way be tied to the effects of war.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE:
Time: 7 min
Then invite your class to look at the list on the board and say: “Looks pretty terrifying, doesn’t it? But the real question then, is: Should we be afraid of the Second Coming. Should we live out our lives in dread and regret that we were born in the latter days? The answer to that is a resounding “NO!” The Lord doesn’t want us to be afraid or sad that we live in the last days. So Joel is also going to show us the wonderful things about being a saint in the latter days. Yes, it will be a dark and difficult time, but it will also be an amazing time to be alive. So let’s take a look for some of those things now.
Now you could do this as a quick crossword puzzle, or if that’s not your style, you could just list the verses from the clues here on the board and invite your students to find those good things about the latter days.
And we discussed those things earlier. But once you’re done, whether you have them do it on the crossword puzzle or you’ve listed them on the board, they will be looking at a large list of those good things.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Time: 3 min
With those promises in front of them, you could now ask:
What difference can these promises make in how we live today, even while the difficult things are still happening?
My thoughts on that question? Knowing that the Lord offers His Spirit could give us confidence to seek guidance when we don’t know what to do. Knowing He’s in our midst could help us feel less alone. And trusting Him as our hope and strength could give us courage to keep serving, making plans, and doing good. We may still have concerns, but those concerns don’t have to determine every choice that we make.
TAKE IT TO HEART:
Time: 3 min
When life seems scary or unsure, which promise from Joel do you most want to remember and why? Give them time to ponder that question and then invite students to share their thoughts.
TAKEAWAY:
Time: 2 min
To conclude, display the takeaway slide and say something along these lines:
When we think about the latter days, it’s easy for the frightening descriptions to take most of our attention. But today we’ve also heard what the Lord promises. He’ll pour out His Spirit. He will be in the midst of us. He’ll be the hope and strength of His people. I love that those promises appear in a book that takes trouble seriously. Joel knows there are reasons people might feel afraid, and he directs them toward the Lord. When life gets unsure or the world seems to be descending into chaos, we can turn toward the Savior and trust Him to help us. When the world shakes, the Lord can be our strength.
OPTIONAL LESSON IDEAS:
TEACHER INSIGHT:
If you have more time, another element of Joel’s message you could explore is what he invites us to do. We’ve discovered some wonderful promises. Well, how does Joel encourage us to respond? Divide the following references among your students: Joel 1:14; 2:12–13; 2:15–16; and 2:32. Ask them to look for actions the people are invited to take. Give them about a minute to search, then gather their discoveries on the board. You can organize their answers under four simple words: FAST, PRAY, TURN, and GATHER. Then ask: How could acting on these invitations help us receive the Lord’s guidance and strength during difficult times?
VIDEO:
You may want to show your students the following video of a swarm of locusts devouring everything in their path and then have them read Joel 2:1-11 to help them see how the prophet uses that imagery to help us visualize the desolation that war will bring in the last days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bx5JUGVahk
QUOTE:
A quote that you might share is something I once heard President Henry B. Eyring share after reading the prophecy found in Joel 2:28. He said:
“This is not poetry, nor is it allegory; it is description of reality as it will be. Some of it will happen so gradually that you may not notice it. Some has already begun across the Church, and we may not have seen the blessing developing, or at least we may not have done what we must to help the Lord with these miracles. That scripture does not say that your sons and your daughters may claim the gift of prophecy by the Spirit. It says that they will. It doesn't say that your young men may see visions. It says that they will. And it will come because the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Not only will the youth you love and serve have the Spirit poured out on them, but so will the people around them and those who lead them”
(Talk to Religious Educators – CES Training Broadcast, August 2004)
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