“a covenant … with the beasts …”
(Hos. 2:18, NKJV)
The conversation regarding the symbolism of animals in Scripture was concluded last week, at a very important point. We pointed out that the term wilderness means “among the wild beasts”, and that when the believer enters the desert or wilderness after becoming born again, there is a struggle with spiritual animals, so that you are taught to triumph, in order for you to learn how to rule. All of this leads to you being prepared to enter the promised land, there where Rev. 3:21 becomes true: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
We have undeniably seen that it is God that leads you into the desert, and there speaks to your heart. Your obedience determines how long you remain in the wilderness. God intended the Israelites to cross through the desert in eleven days (Deut. 1:2); and it eventually took forty years, and still the idols had not been removed from the nation’s heart. Num. 14:33 positions the infidelity with the idols of our heart in this way: “And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness.”
But for a few, the remnant, the Bride, who do manage to triumph and move through to the third dimension, Isa. 40:2 (ESV) has become true: “her warfare is ended”. And here the rest of the prophesy of Hos. 2:18-20 thus fits into the picture: “In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air, and with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, to make them lie down safely. I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.”
Earlier in Hos. 2 we read, in verse 15: “I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope …” The Valley of Achor’s name means “trouble” (BDB), and the root word meaning includes “to afflict” (Strong). In addition to the familiar meaning of the word valley, it also means “to take possession, inherit” (BDB). You need to first be tested in the Valley of Achor before it can become a door of hope, through which you enter to take possession of your spiritual inheritance. Only then Isa. 65:10 takes place: “And the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for My people who have sought Me.” The pastoral picture of animals that symbolize the peace of the land is clear here.
It is important that this event is specified and highlighted as “the day”, also earlier in verse 15: “in that day”. Then verses 21-23 follow, which outline what will happen “in that day”: “It shall come to pass in that day that I will answer,” says the Lord; I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil; they shall answer Jezreel. Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’”
Remember the teaching of Day 1308-1309, where we spelled out what today means: “Thus: if you are obedient (today), today is a telescoping of the end, thus today, if you are obedient, is the Sabbath or culmination. This is because God is only in today.”
- Selah: Do you live in the past or in the future?
- Read: 23-25
- Memorise: 23:22 (What an important verse this is!)