Sin, death and the Resurrection

 Read Hosea 13.

Judah had been chosen to be the tribe of the royal line.  However, when the kingdom divided, Jeroboam became king in the north from the tribe of Ephraim.  Separated from Jerusalem and the Temple, the northern kingdom gave itself to idol worship.

Craftsmen made images of calves out of silver to which the people ascribed spiritual power.  Incredibly, grown men worshipped by kissing an inanimate object they made with their own hands.  Then, in their delusion, they offered human sacrifices to appease it (v.2).  They did this despite their heritage of faith in God, not acknowledging all that God had done for them, and ignoring the prophets He sent to call them back to Him.

In order to bring some reality to their thinking, the LORD reminded them that He alone is God "and there is no savior" apart from Him.  All the religious philosophies and rituals of this world can never take away sin!  There is only one cure for sin, only one source of forgiveness, and only one way to heaven.  Jesus claimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

God's judgment on the sin of Israel was pre-announced and sure.  The time had come and He would not relent.  In verse 14, God asked four questions about holding back the punishment, but "compassion is hidden from my eyes."  The Assyrians were used to implement God's plan.

When the Apostle Paul wrote so vigorously concerning the resurrection of Christ as the proof of eternal life for every believer, he first referred to a verse from Isaiah and then quoted two of the questions from Hosea 13:14. 
"He will swallow up death forever..." (Isaiah 25:8)
"O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Jesus paid the price for the sin of the world, once for all, when He was crucified.  Therefore, for the believer in Jesus there is no fear of death or uncertainty of what will take place afterwards.  His resurrection is our guarantee.  "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)