Good morning. It is Wednesday, July 5, 2023. A desert time can be a door to a wasteland or a door to a Promised Land. You choose. Read on …
Today's Reading:
Hosea 2,3,4,5; Hebrews 2
Scripture
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and I will bring her into the wilderness and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope.” (Hosea 2:14)
Observation
Hosea's entire life with Gomer, his flirtatious wife, served as a metaphor for Israel and her wayward heart that constantly strayed from God. Moreover, it depicted the Lord's relentless pursuit of Israel, drawing her back to Himself. However, God knew that capturing her attention required more than a season of opulence or plenty. Instead, He led her into a desert, a wilderness of wandering, a time of dryness. Just as He did with Moses, God would meet Israel there. He declared that the Valley of Achor would become a door of hope.
The Valley of Achor, located north of Jericho, was a tangible place where a man named Achan was judged for his sin, which led to Israel's defeat. Achor translates to "affliction" or "trouble." Once the sin troubling Israel was rectified, victory and blessing were restored.
Application
In His pursuit of me, I bet God will have led me into a desert because He knew that this was where I could hear Him the best. It’s dry and lonely - windswept and empty, but that is where I am compelled and convinced to return. It is I who strays, and it is He who pursues. In times of loss, I must double my efforts to seek His face and return.
And that is the precise moment when a desert will turn into an oasis.
Prayer
Lord, I often hear stories of people who abandoned their relationship with You when they entered a time of wilderness. For them, the valley of Achor never transformed into a door of hope. These valleys have appeared frequently in my own life, triggered by setbacks, betrayals, mistakes, the consequences of sins, and financial losses. However, looking back, I realize that it was in those valleys that I drew closer to You. It was during the low times that I experienced the most growth, humility, and learning.
Thank You for revealing to me that the doorways to Hope are often found in the valleys, rather than on the mountain tops. Please help me to discover the doorway to hope when everything seems troubling.
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