Children of the Living God

Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” 11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

As we look at the Minor Prophets, who prophesied in times leading up to, during, and after the Exile, we find not only God's faithfulness to keep His promise to judge rebellion and rejection, but pictures of hope. Here, in the very first chapter of this first "minor" prophet, we find this promise that those who had been declared "not my people" would be proclaimed Children of the Living God. What a promise! When Christ came, He brought with Him a similar promise: But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) What a promise and privilege we have in Him!