Day 43: Our Loving Wilderness Leader

BLESSING FOR COUNTING THE OMER:

Baruch ata Adonai, ELOHEYNU melech ha-olam, asher kiddeshanu bidvarecha

v’tzi-va-no al sifeerat ha-omer.

Blessed are you, O Adonai our GOD, King of the universe Who has sanctified us by your Word and commanded us concerning the Counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-three days, which is six weeks and one day of the Omer.

“Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. From there, I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:14-15

Hosea chapter 2 portrays Israel’s infidelity to G-d; the consequences of the infidelity; and G-d’s continuous love to restore and redeem them. This scripture shows the beautiful love Adonai has for Israel.  He knows all the infidelity Israel chose to experience, is there through the consequences, and through His love, allures them back to Him. As stated in Hosea 2:7 , “She will go after her lovers, but she won’t catch up with them; she will seek them, but she won’t find them.” This may represent all things that one may choose to put in place of Adonai. This can represent careers, money, a lover, an addiction, knowledge, friends, sleep, revenge, and whatever else one’s heart may put before Adonai. He knows the infidelity, and still allures Israel into the wilderness.

In the wilderness, testing and transformation begin. He is bringing Israel into the wilderness and comparing it to when they left Egypt. It is in the wilderness, after being extracted from Egypt and isolated, that Israel experienced the Divine Encounter of G-d and received His Word. And now here in Hosea, Israel is being brought into the wilderness again. G-d speaks of comfort and tenderness and giving Israel her vineyards. Vineyards take meticulous care. Farmers will initially protect their vineyards with a fence before cultivating the land, removing any barriers of the soil (stones, unadaptive soil, etc.). One must have a meticulous process of preparation, dedication, and patience to have a flourishing vineyard. G-d may be using this example of vineyards to explain both His love and relationship with Israel.  

G-d says that He will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. In Hebrew, Achor means trouble or disturbance. This is the Valley in Joshua 7, where Achan took some of the devoted things and hid them in his tent. Israel paid the consequences by losing 36 men to Ai. Achan was stoned in the Valley of Achor for his choices. G-d is now using the troubles of Israel and telling them it will be a door of hope. “We know that in all things G-d works for the good of those who love Him, those whom He has called to be part of His plan.” Romans 8:28

These verses in Hosea remind us that our G-d knows us, knows our transgressions, and whenever we may be in the wilderness, He is there with us, transforming us meticulously through His love, bringing us closer to Him. He is reassuring us that our troubles, He can make into hope for those who love Him. May we respond to His voice with our heart, mind, and soul fully focused on Him. Baruch Hashem, our faithful redeemer! 

Adonai, Everlasting King of the Universe, Ancient One of Days, blessed be Your name. Thank You for Your everlasting love. Thank You for alluring us to You and meticulously working to transform us. Thank You for giving us a door of hope. Thank You for giving us Your Word that we may connect with You daily and have You continually in our lives. Thank You for another day of counting the Omer as we continue to learn more about Your Word and grow closer to You each day. In Yashua HaMashiach’s Name. Amen.