#soap # Hosea 13 ## Title: Remember the Faithfulness of God ## Scripture: (Hosea 13:4) “But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me. Except for me there is no Savior.” (NET) ## Observation: There is an old phrase that says, “Dance with the one that brung you.” This old southern phrase is talking about going to a dance in high school. Many times, teenagers would go to dances after being invited by someone else. It was considered disrespectful to get into the dance, then dance with everyone but the one who had asked you out. When someone invites you, you are supposed to be primarily their date and your attention belongs to them. If you are not willing to do this, do not accept their invitation. This phrase eventually spread out into a bigger meaning. It eventually was used to mean that we should not abandon what made us successful. If we started a business and the main ingredient was integrity and hard work, we should not abandon those values after it becomes successful. This is what this passage is conveying. Israel was brought out of Egypt by the Lord. He is the One who parted the sea, fed them in the desert, and brought them into the Promised Land. To turn their back on Him is to abandon the reason they got to the place of prominence they now enjoy. Therefore, God is reminding them to return and be faithful to Him. If the prophet were living today, he might say, “Dance with the one that brung you.” ## Application: Do a self-check. Have you abandoned the depth of relationship with God you once had? If so, make a course correction today. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for all the things You have done in our lives to bring us to this point.