Death and Resurrection
Open Your Bible
Hosea 13:1-16, Exodus 20:2, Acts 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 15:54-56
BY Bailey T. Hurley
I have had many mountain-top moments of faith through the years. God has delivered in some big ways. My response to these moments is always a string of renewed promises: I will pray more often, I will worship God more vulnerably, I will feast on the Word of God daily without fail. But hours turn to days, weeks, and suddenly I realize I’ve already forgotten the promises I have made to God. In Hosea 13, we are told how the people of God experienced the ups and downs of their forgotten promises to God.
After God’s people were rescued from Egypt, they promised to worship no other god except the Lord. But as you might guess, it wasn’t long before they began to fashion idols for themselves and give credit where credit was not due. Their punishment for breaking their covenant with God was to wander in the desert for forty years, with none of the adult generation to see the Promised Land! The peoples’ time of wandering is marked by many times of complaining against God, hunger, and thirst, but all the while God remembered them and provided for them again and again. Each time, the people would praise the Lord, and rededicate themselves to serving Him again. But along the way, they would forget of His great deeds, grow unfaithful and proud, and neglect God’s provision (Hosea 13:5–6).
I often remark on how ungrateful Israel’s response was to God’s loving-kindness. It is seemingly impossible for these people to be faithful to their promises, yet the more I reflect on my own spiritual habits, I realize I act much the same way. Just like Israel, I give credit to myself, forgetting all the victories God has won. I trade God’s invitation to come and be with Him for a cheap imitation of intimacy with my phone on the couch. I overlook the amazing thing God has done for me, what feels like seconds after His blessing has manifested.
But how does God respond to this ungratefulness? Well, I really have no reason to fault Him if His response is to “be like a lion,” but remarkably He chooses to “redeem them from death” (vv.7,14). Though He is rejected by His people, He still chooses to rescue them.
There truly is no one like our God. His forgiveness is not dependent on our ability to follow the law, “for no one alive is righteous in [God’s] sight” (Psalm 143:2). Instead, God’s forgiveness is dependent on the death and life of Jesus paying the debt of our sin. The God who rescued the Israelites from Egypt is the same God rescuing us today. Despite our failed promises to Him, God will keep us from death. Despite our unfaithfulness, God is mighty to save.
50 thoughts on "Death and Resurrection"
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MAURA – So happy you found a place to live! What part of Colorado are you in? I’m up north. Your words blessed me again today. Tears fall sweet lady. I’m so thankful for you.
ARINA – I feel the same. I spend my mornings in God’s word and then go about my day. I want to be transformed. To truly know Him. To think about all that he has done for me throughout my day. I have started listening to christian music in my car. Trying to keep my focus on HIM.
MELANIE – praying for your FIL. I have trouble sleeping. My mind does not turn off during hard times. I worry. I need to give it to the Lord.The podcast talked about Hosea 13:6 When they had pasture, they became satisfied; they were satisfied, and their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me. They talked about the lacking of lack. Isn’t that so true today. We have so much that we forgot who gave it to us. To put God first always. To hold onto stuff lightly.
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Sydney S thanks for sharing! Sometimes I have felt like that too, going through the last two studies, my heart doesn’t latch onto the OT like it sings in response to the NT as much but as others have mentioned there are still insights to be found here. My heart is sad over imagery of women being torn apart and children dying, but the focus is on the love of God for His people despite them choosing other things but Him. Hope this helps and you are blessed !
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May I not forget God; who He is and all He has done for me.
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Wow, LISA…I love that!! “Annie F. Downs, “My feelings get to ride, but they don’t get to drive.” ”
MAURA, I am elated to hear of the home you found; been praying and will continue to do so. Oh, Boy…it is QUITE possible that worry is often a distraction or idol in my life which leads me to seek even more distraction (sadly TV is the best for turning my brain / heart off) to forget the worry!! There is no doubt that our concerns and requests before the Lord are genuine aches (e.g. the children and now the depressed preteen) that need us to FEEL and contemplate but, there are certainly times when we must cease the ruminating, even briefly, and surrender.
LAURA, nice to hear back from you; continuing to pray.
SYDNEY, I have most certainly felt this and for some segments of the Bible, just wanted to “check it off” as read, knowing I am being “washed” by the Word but, I agree with our sister…. when we go through it together and I read the well-preparrd, often researched, meditation, (sometimes wondering “How did she manage get THAT from the text?!”) I find I get something out of it!
God bless. Let us NEVER cease to pray for one another ❣️
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You learn something new every day! I just now realized after reading this devotion that the adult generation during that time did not get to see the promised land. How sad. Yet God still approved himself faithful. Now that’s our God. That’s the God I want to serve. I may not be a widow but figuratively speaking I am. And our God promises to take care of the widow.
This may not be a big deal but I am so grateful!! God provided a knee scooter for me at no charge. It’s go to make my job at work a lot easier to maneuver. I’m so tired of the crutches! It has been quite the challenge to get across the campus. Which I avoid at all costs. But for now, I’m so grateful and thankful to my God who always provides and takes care of me. -
You learn something new every day! I just now realized after reading this devotion that the adult generation during that time did not get to see the promised land. How sad. Yet God still approved himself faithful. Now that our God. That’s the God I want to serve. I may not be a widow but figuratively speaking I am. And our God promises to take care of the widow. 
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“I have been the Lord your God, (Kathy), ever since…(v13:4)…the beginning. I can look back and see his faithfulness and guiding hand in my life and my choices. Grateful and saying this to myself over and over today. So comforting!
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Praising God with you Maura! So thankful we have the Lord who is the God of armies, King of Kings, Lord of lords yet unfailing in his love and mercy to each one of us. Thanks for mentioning the podcast, I haven’t listened for awhile and know I would get even more out of these passages if I listened. I too am finding Hosea difficult but am so thankful for the devotions here, your thoughts and commentary to help me digest it all. I am finding nuggets to underline, things I want to remember. And that’s enough for now! My first time through Hosea will not be my only time to read it and maybe not the time it all makes perfect sense and that’s okay!
I love how SRT adds other connected texts, like the 1 Cor 15:54-56, “Death where is your victory? Where, death, is your sting.” How often I know pieces of text from the New Testament, (thanks to worship music), and then get to see the connections here as I work my way through Old Testament books I haven’t ever thought to dive into on my own?! So grateful for this resource and the encouragement here! ❤️
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