Hosea 11


Opening question

  • Imagine you were a judge on a panel for "Father of the Year". What would you be looking for (your criteria)?

Study

Read Hosea 11:1-11.

  1. What can we learn about God as a father and what he is like from this passage?
  2. What distorted/incorrect images of God as father might we have, possibly learnt from our own earthly fathers?
  3. When would a father experience joy and delight?
  4. When would a father experience pain and sorrow?
  5. After all Hosea has said so far and God has experienced with his evil children, his compassion still grows warm. What are some of your happiest memories of someone showing you compassion?
  6. Why can compassion and forgiveness be so hard for us to give?
  7. Are there things you can/need to forgive people in your own family (for example, parents, siblings or children) or ways you can show compassion because your heavenly father has shown you compassion?
Pray for children and families.

Artwork © Alison Gilmour


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