Though you won’t find many specific prophecies about the Messiah in the 12 minor prophets, they do prepare the Jewish people for the arrival of the Messiah by reminding us of the heart of God for His people. He never gives up, He never leaves, He never breaks His promises. He does judge, more often than we want to believe, so that people who won’t listen otherwise will turn back to right relationship with Him. God designed us for relationship with Him that is filled with justice, mercy, grace, righteousness, and lovingkindness and when we forget these things He has a tendency to remind us. Just as in the days of old, the 12 minor prophets continue to speak to anyone who will listen to their warnings and to the story of the God of Israel and His people.
Part 1 of The 12 is the Prophet Amos.
Amos
Part 1 of The 12
January 4, 2020 • Matt Rosenberg
Habakkuk
March 28, 2020 • Matt Rosenberg, Aybars Uckun
Habakkuk reminds us that every person, even a prophet, struggles to believe that God is good when there is so much tragedy around us. Habakkuk's short letter is in the literary style of lament, and it ends with the great hope and joy that we can find in God, who saves us! We recorded this conversation a week before the "Stay-at-home" order in Washington, and it certainly speaks hope into our current circumstances. Habakkuk is Part 12 of The 12.
Hosea
March 21, 2020 • Matt Rosenberg, Aybars Uckun
Hosea is a strange story of a prophet who marries a prostitute that God uses to compare His relationship with His people. Hosea speaks into the 21st century with a megaphone: "God loves you more than your sin can condemn you." Join us as Rabbi Matt and Rabbi Aybars discuss Hosea in a time of change in our world due to the coronavirus. Hosea is part 11 of the series The 12.
Joel
March 14, 2020 • Matt Rosenberg, Aybars Uckun
Calamity forces people to pay attention to what really matters. In this chaotic time of so many things being canceled due to COVID-19, including our regular Shabbat Gatherings, it is reminiscent of a swarm of locust that destroyed everything at the start of the book of Joel. What do we do when we face crisis that changes everything? The prophet Joel gives us some wonderful answers!