Wednesday 27 December 2006

A door of hope

“And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” - Hosea 2v15

Hosea is one of those amazing stories found in what we often call the “Minor Prophets.” The prophet Hosea was called to marry a prostitute as a picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Israel, by her spiritual unfaithfulness, had acted just like a prostitute toward God. Hosea and his wife Gomer were a clear picture of this relationship.

For most of two chapters God expressed His displeasure are Israel’s sin. Yet, God still showed His mercy – “I will give her the valley of Achor as a door of hope.” God always provides a door of hope, even in the times of trouble. For Israel it was a valley, for us it is a Saviour.

Man is still guilty of spiritual adultery. Man runs from God and is unfaithful to Him. While the valley of Achor was a door of hope as a land, Jesus said that He is the door to eternal life. “I am the door,” He said. Without this door of hope we would indeed be without hope in this world. Praise God that He provides a “Door of Hope!”

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