1. Israel's Deep Spiritual Beginnings

Genesis 32:24-25

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

Hosea 12:4-5

4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;

5 Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.

II. Israel's Rejection of the Theocracy

1 Samuel 8:7

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee:

for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

III. Israel's Path to Discipline

a. The critical division within

b. Long history of rebellion, disobedience and punishment

c. The Northern Kingdom had only wicked leadership

d. The Northern Kingdom taken captive in 722 B.C.

Shalmaneser invaded Israel and laid siege to Samaria, the capital of the kingdom. During the siege he died, and was succeeded by Sargon II

The Northern Kingdom has not recovered, but have been dispersed world wide.

e. Judah followed similar behavior

Jeremiah 3:8

And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

1. Babylon invaded and destroyed Jerusalem 606 BC

2. Judah returned to Jerusalem 444 BC by command of King Artaxerxes I (445 or 444 BC)

3. Jerusalem destroyed by Titus of Rome 70 AD

4. The Sanhedrin disbanded in 425 AD

We see the Patience of God over a period of 1500 years when His children rebelled and disobeyed

We see the Punishment upon extreme wickedness from the Northern Kingdom

We see the Passion of God in restoring the Southern Kingdom

We see the Persistence of God as He chastises disobedient Israel for more the 1900 years until today.