Printable Bible Study for the Book of Hosea and Joel

Study the booksof Hosea and Joel in the Bible when you use this printable outline to discover historical events, timelines and themes.

THE BIBLE BOOK OF HOSEA

As I’m reading through the book of Hosea, I can almost hear the voice of God choke up as he speaks to his children, the Israelites.

His heart is broken over their rebellion and betrayal.

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me.” Hosea 11:1-2

Can’t you just see this as if it’s a teenager rebelling into darkness while his father stands and urges him to see the truth? He goes onto explain that Israel (also referred to as Ephraim in the book of Hosea), turned to other false gods, worshipping and trusting in their wickedness. This part made me sigh as I read it:

“It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.” Hosea 11:3

Have you ever heard of a “righteous anger”? The entire book of Hosea is filled with God’s anger (aka wrath) that he expresses at turning away from his people and giving up on them. YET…

Yet you will see several times God admits he cannot throw in the towel although he is righteous in his anger, because he still desperately loves his children.

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?…My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man—the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion.” Hosea 11:8-10

Anyone else picturing Aslan from Narnia right now?

HOSEA AND GOMER

The book of Hosea is a prophecy told by the prophet Hosea to the people of Israel right before they’re overthrown by Assyria. The southern kingdom of Judah has yet to be taken into exile and it’s during this time that God reveals while he has a righteous anger against them, he has decided not to completely cut them off for good.

What have they done wrong?

Well, start with Genesis and you’ll find out…but seriously, it’s about a continuous rebellion of God’s people against him. And it’s not just that they don’t worship him anymore—they are truly evil. They are murderers, thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, wicked, arrogant, idol-worshipping drunks and liars. It’s only after they are in exile that they begin to turn back to trusting in the Lord.

At the beginning of the book, Hosea is told by the Lord to do something very difficult.

The Lord said to [Hosea], “Go and take an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.” Hosea 1:2

The rest of the book is a mix of prophecy to the Israelites using the analogy of Hosea’s relationship with his wife, Gomer. She is a prostitute that continues to betray him, even while they have three of their own children at home. Instead of cursing her and leaving her in her own sin, Hosea goes and buys her back and asks her to return to him.

The Lord said to me, ”Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods.” Hosea 3:1

PRINTABLES FOR THE BOOKS OF HOSEA AND JOEL

I am including the book of Joel with my Hosea printable because it’s the next book listed in the Bible. However, the book of Joel is a random one—many aren’t sure when it occurred or who it was written to. What we do know, is that it continues the message of God’s wrath if his people continue to refuse him. The book of Joel takes place during a locust plague. It was possibly even after the last book in the Old Testament in 450 BC.

Want to know more about the break down of each of these books? Check out my timelines I’m creating and work your way to deeper spiritual understanding of God’s relationship with us as his children. You can order the Book of Hosea and Joel printables here:

SHOP THE BOOKS OF HOSEA AND JOEL

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So a few years ago, I made this Old and New Testament Summary Printable, and now I’m working my way through each book of the Bible! To get the rest of the printables, check out my Timeline Bundles for the best deal: