Today's Sufficient Grace

Hosea 4-9 is a litany of charges brought by the faithful, covenant-keeping God against the northern nation of Israel for unfaithfulness, spiritual prostitution and rebellion.

The prophet Hosea appeals to the nation in Hosea 6:1–2 (ESV),

¹ “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. ² After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

"The reference to "two days" and "the third day" means only that the restoration mentioned in v.1 will come surely and quickly. A similar use of numbers occurs in Job 5:19; Proverbs 6:16; 30:15, 18; Amos 1:3, 6, 9; et al." [1]   But surely there is a veiled prefiguring of the resurrection of Christ in this promise.   Not to suggest that Hosea intended that, but more that the Holy Spirit would use this occasion to grant us a parallel meaning.

Perhaps this is why Christ's Apostles could claim the following: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,” (Luke 24:46, ESV).   Jesus Christ is the true Israel. What Israel failed to accomplish, Christ did through His active obedience.  Jesus Christ is the true Israel and all who find their rest in Him become the Israel of God.

Therefore Paul could say, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4, ESV).

Those that come to Christ in faith are promised, with the true Israel, resurrection unto new life, that commences immediately upon repenting and turning to Christ; and finds it's glorious culmination at the Second Return of our Lord.

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11, ESV)  

 

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1. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Hosea/Exposition of Hosea/II. Israel's Indictment, Punishment, and Restoration (4:1-14:9)/A. Israel's Indictment (4:1-7:16)/6. Words of repentant Israel (6:1-3), Book Version: 4.0.2