Life Principle 18
As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. (Hosea 3:4-5)
As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. (Hosea 3:4-5)
Life’s Questions
There are tragic, life-changing moments that can be extremely difficult to survive. An unexpected trial strikes you with a force that knocks you off your feet—the pain and loss far more intense than you ever thought possible. Stunned and overwhelmed, your mind will look for some explanation to cling to. You may wonder, What did I do to deserve this? Why would God allow this to happen to me? During these times of heartbreak, it is extremely important for you to remember Life Principle 18: As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. You may not know why this adversity has come into your life, but you can trust that God is with you and loves you.
What the Bible Says
Read Hosea 1:1–3. What did the Lord command Hosea to do?
*** Hosea was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel c. 755 BC to 715 BC. God brought His judgment to the kingdom of Judah through Babylon, and He judged Israel through the Assyrian invasion.
What do you think the Lord’s purpose was in giving that assignment to Hosea (2)? Does it make sense to you?
Read Hosea 2:6–8, 13. What did Israel do?
What was God’s judgment concerning Israel’s unfaithfulness? What was Israel supposed to learn from God’s rebuke (7–8)?
*** The Hebrew word for master or owner is Ba’al. The Lord is your true Master and Owner. However, you always need to be careful that your full affection is set on Him so that something else—such as wealth, relationships, power, or status—doesn’t control you and become your god.
Read Hosea 2:14–20. What would God do after He judged Israel’s sin?
What is the difference between thinking of God as your Husband and thinking of Him as your Master (16)? Isn’t He both?
What do verses 19–20 tell you about God’s intentions toward you?
*** Hosea loved and cared for Gomer, yet she went back to prostitution and was enslaved to another man. Hosea was then forced to purchase her for half the price of a female slave (see Ex. 21:32).
Read Hosea 3:1–5. How was God’s relationship with Israel reflected in Hosea’s relationship with Gomer?
What do you think the Israelites learned from not having kings, princes, and so on (4)? What is God’s goal for every circumstance that comes into your life (5)?
What It Means
Through Hosea’s marriage, God gave the Israelites the perfect picture of what He wanted to teach them. They had sinned, abandoning the God who redeemed them from Egypt to run after false deities that couldn’t offer them anything but heartache. Still, God loved His people, and He was committed to the covenant that He had made with them. He was willing to take drastic measures—even allowing Assyria to invade them—to bring Israel back to a vibrant relationship with Himself. In fact, Hosea 3:5 says, “Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.” This meant that they would embrace the descendant of David who would become their Messiah. Through this conflict with Assyria, God would prepare the people of Israel for Jesus to be their Savior.
Life Examples
Read Psalm 103:19. What does God rule over? Is there anything in all creation that God does not control?
How does this apply to the trial that you are experiencing?
Living the Principle
God is completely sovereign, which means that everything that touches your life must serve some purpose. Nothing that happens to you is ever meaningless or useless. You are never merely a victim of an unfair world. God has a very important purpose for refining you, which is to conform you to the image of His Son and glorify Himself through you. The more jolting the hardship, the greater the ministry which God is preparing for you. The deeper the cut, the more profoundly God will use you to do His work in the world if you will trust and obey Him.
Are you in the middle of a trial? Do you wonder why God has allowed such a painful experience in your life? It is alright to ask Him why He permitted the adversity and what He wants you to learn from it. However, you must avoid becoming bitter and resentful. Always remember that God is ultimately in control, His love for you never changes, and His will for your life is good. You are not a victim. You are God’s beloved child and He has an extraordinary plan for your life, so have faith in Him.
How will you live out Life Principle 18 this week? Discuss how it helps you to know that God has a purpose in all of your circumstances. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
There are tragic, life-changing moments that can be extremely difficult to survive. An unexpected trial strikes you with a force that knocks you off your feet—the pain and loss far more intense than you ever thought possible. Stunned and overwhelmed, your mind will look for some explanation to cling to. You may wonder, What did I do to deserve this? Why would God allow this to happen to me? During these times of heartbreak, it is extremely important for you to remember Life Principle 18: As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. You may not know why this adversity has come into your life, but you can trust that God is with you and loves you.
What the Bible Says
Read Hosea 1:1–3. What did the Lord command Hosea to do?
*** Hosea was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel c. 755 BC to 715 BC. God brought His judgment to the kingdom of Judah through Babylon, and He judged Israel through the Assyrian invasion.
What do you think the Lord’s purpose was in giving that assignment to Hosea (2)? Does it make sense to you?
Read Hosea 2:6–8, 13. What did Israel do?
What was God’s judgment concerning Israel’s unfaithfulness? What was Israel supposed to learn from God’s rebuke (7–8)?
*** The Hebrew word for master or owner is Ba’al. The Lord is your true Master and Owner. However, you always need to be careful that your full affection is set on Him so that something else—such as wealth, relationships, power, or status—doesn’t control you and become your god.
Read Hosea 2:14–20. What would God do after He judged Israel’s sin?
What is the difference between thinking of God as your Husband and thinking of Him as your Master (16)? Isn’t He both?
What do verses 19–20 tell you about God’s intentions toward you?
*** Hosea loved and cared for Gomer, yet she went back to prostitution and was enslaved to another man. Hosea was then forced to purchase her for half the price of a female slave (see Ex. 21:32).
Read Hosea 3:1–5. How was God’s relationship with Israel reflected in Hosea’s relationship with Gomer?
What do you think the Israelites learned from not having kings, princes, and so on (4)? What is God’s goal for every circumstance that comes into your life (5)?
What It Means
Through Hosea’s marriage, God gave the Israelites the perfect picture of what He wanted to teach them. They had sinned, abandoning the God who redeemed them from Egypt to run after false deities that couldn’t offer them anything but heartache. Still, God loved His people, and He was committed to the covenant that He had made with them. He was willing to take drastic measures—even allowing Assyria to invade them—to bring Israel back to a vibrant relationship with Himself. In fact, Hosea 3:5 says, “Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.” This meant that they would embrace the descendant of David who would become their Messiah. Through this conflict with Assyria, God would prepare the people of Israel for Jesus to be their Savior.
Life Examples
Read Psalm 103:19. What does God rule over? Is there anything in all creation that God does not control?
How does this apply to the trial that you are experiencing?
Living the Principle
God is completely sovereign, which means that everything that touches your life must serve some purpose. Nothing that happens to you is ever meaningless or useless. You are never merely a victim of an unfair world. God has a very important purpose for refining you, which is to conform you to the image of His Son and glorify Himself through you. The more jolting the hardship, the greater the ministry which God is preparing for you. The deeper the cut, the more profoundly God will use you to do His work in the world if you will trust and obey Him.
Are you in the middle of a trial? Do you wonder why God has allowed such a painful experience in your life? It is alright to ask Him why He permitted the adversity and what He wants you to learn from it. However, you must avoid becoming bitter and resentful. Always remember that God is ultimately in control, His love for you never changes, and His will for your life is good. You are not a victim. You are God’s beloved child and He has an extraordinary plan for your life, so have faith in Him.
How will you live out Life Principle 18 this week? Discuss how it helps you to know that God has a purpose in all of your circumstances. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
- Your sovereign God has determined to use everything that happens to you for your blessing and His glory (see Rom. 8:28).
- To endure, keep your eyes on Jesus (see Heb. 12:1–3).