the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Hosea 2:1-17
Israel’s case is indefensible (v. 2; cf. Isaiah 1:18). After a series of crushing accusations, God pronounces the verdict on the unfaithfulness of His people. "Therefore . . . I will hedge up thy way" (v. 6); "Therefore will I. . . take away my corn . . ." (v. 9); "Therefore . . .", and an even more severe punishment might be expected. But what does v. 14 announce? "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her". Incomparable grace of God! The sin of His people becomes an opportunity for Him to display His infinite mercy. Instead of turning away the ungrateful, guilty "wife", He takes her by the hand, and alone with her, speaks to her in such a way as to touch her heart. But why mention that sinister "Valley of Achor"? Was it not a reminder of the sin of Achan and its tragic consequences? (Joshua 7:26). Well. God has chosen it so as to make it henceforward "a door of hope" (cf. Isaiah 65:10). Morally the same applies for us. The valley of trouble (meaning of Achor), the place where we have to do with God about our past sins, becomes "a door of hope". Thus God shows us that our enjoyment of fellowship with Him must begin with the confession of our sins.
