Only One Source of Salvation

In the Old Testament, God's covenant love, justice, and faithfulness are often found together. (See, for example, Exodus 34:6-7, where he reveals himself to Moses.) We have difficulty holding these three together because our ideas of these qualities are distorted.

We have a sentimental view of love. We confuse covenant with contract and assume that once the contract is broken by our sin, we can't expect God to love us anymore. We confuse justice with retribution. When someone complains, "I want justice," it's usually retaliation, not justice, that they want. Certainly, they don't want mercy, not, at least, for their adversary. In our own experience, we know more of faithlessness than faithfulness.

Still less do we understand God's wrath. We think of wrath as violent anger. When we read that God is jealous, we think that jealousy is a kind of petty covetousness. Punishment is, to our minds, an attempt to retaliate or destroy. How can God show wrath, be jealous, and punish? We want nothing to do with the God of the Old Testament.

Reading Hosea challenges our understanding of God at every turn. He is full of love, justice, faithfulness, and mercy. If he punishes us, it is only to bring him back to himself.

The Romans had a proverb, Respice finem, or "Look to the end." That's what Hosea does here. One day, we will all be changed. '"I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.' Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?" To see this through the lens of Jesus' resurrection, read 1 Corinthians 15:35-56.

Respond in Prayer

Almighty and most merciful God, thank you for the revelation of yourself in the Scriptures. Thank you for the insights of the prophet Hosea and the apostle Paul. Teach us about yourself as we read the Bible. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who came to reveal to us what you are like, Amen.

Annabel Robinson