O Israel, You have Destroyed Yourself - Hosea 13:9

In the book of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said of Ephraim, “I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them”, and in chapter thirteen and verse nine of Hosea, Hosea shared how Jehovah God said, “O Israel, you have destroyed yourself” where we read,

O Israel you have destroyed yourself; but in me is your help.

The verse begins, “O Israel you have destroyed yourself”; Hosea began with the words, “O Israel” or “O Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name for the descendants and nation of descendants of Jacob” “you have destroyed yourself” which means “you, Israel, have corrupted, ruined, spoiled, injured and made rotten your own selves”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God told the people of “Israel” that they ruined and corrupted themselves. 

The verse goes on to say, “but in me is your help.” Hosea continued with the words, “but in me” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover within me, Jehovah God” “is your help” which means “exists your, Israel's, aid, assistance and one who gives succor”. Hosea shared how Jehovah God declared Himself to be the one who gives aid to Israel.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Hosea how Jehovah God knew that the people of “Israel”ruined themselves, and He was the one who would give them aid and assistance. God loves “Israel”, and they were to be the nation through whom all nations of the world would be blessed. (See Genesis 22:28; 26:4) God sent His Son Jesus in the world through the nation of “Israel” to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide His Holy Spirit to keep us from “destroying” ourselves and understanding that He alone is our “helper”.

Next time Hosea shares how Jehovah God says, “I will be your king”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".