Hosea 13:1

Hosea 13:1 says, When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.  When Ephraim, a part of the nation of Israel, worshipped God in the awe that He deserves, Ephraim was successful.  The people were not satisfied with God's provision and protection of them though, and sought out idols, represented here by Baal.  We should learn to be content with our needs being met and not fall into the trap of allowing material desires to become what we are most interested in.  Ephraim was guilty of pride and greed and looked to man-made gods to fulfill these desires.  Verse two adds, And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.  Sin breeds sin.  God's chosen people were falling farther and farther away from Him.  We cannot allow even a small amount of sin in our lives if we are to effectively serve God.  Verse three continues, Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.  Though the people of Israel felt successful, their real accomplishments would be no more lasting than the dew or mist.  As soon as the sun came out, they would pass away.  If our works are not for God, they will not last in the Light, which Christ brings to our lives.  Verse four proclaims, Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.  God was reminding those who called themselves His people that He is the only God.  God is the only One Who can deliver and save people.  In this, we as His followers, must always be exclusive.  There is but One true God, and He alone can deliver us from sin and its penalty. Verse five adds, I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.  I believe that God was reminding the people of Israel that He was not some new god, like the ones they were worshipping, but that He had been with them since He called them.  Even in the bad times, God was with them, and so He is with us today. Verse six continues, According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.   God had been the One to bring them success, yet they had forgotten Him.  Sometimes, we seem to be closer to God in our struggles than we are in our successes, but we must remember that we owe it all to God.  Verse seven says, Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:  Verse eight adds, 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.  When God's people refuse to follow Him, they can expect God's judgment on them.  This is not God's desire, but it is a choice people can make.  Once more, if we are truly His through Christ, we are saved forever, but if we stray from His will, we can expect the things that we do that are not in God's will to be destroyed.  We must always remember that God alone should direct our lives.