When the Bow Breaks (Hosea 1:5)

 

In, The Bloody Reckoning of Jehu Jezreel & Jesus (Hosea 1:4), we saw God point to the cross from way back in Hosea’s day. He painted a picture of how He’d show up, sow His own blood, and declare over the kingdom of darkness, “It is finished.”

  

I will visit. The blood I sow, is Mine; to bring an end the kingdom that strives against Me.

 

But He didn’t stop there.

He pointed past the cross, past the resurrection, past you and me, here and now, and all the way to…that day.

Like folks planning a wedding, every conversation revolves around, that day. God’s been talking about, that day, ever since before the beginning.

Today, the Lord of the harvest, invites us to take a peek through His eyes, and see, that day, the day He is so looking forward to.

But, that day, won’t come without a fight. Proceed, if you dare.

“It shall come to pass in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” Hosea 1:5

A bow is a weapon. It identifies strength; the military power of a nation. To break the bow, means, to destroy the nation’s power.

In 722 BC the bow of Israel was broken. Assyria carried them away captive. The breaking of the bow, in 722 BC, was really more like the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Little by little, by way of Israel’s corruption, they eroded from the inside out, until Assyria, simply carried them away. Not unlike what has happened to many once strong nations. Not unlike what is happening and could happen to U.S.  Not unlike the nursery rhyme:

Rock a bye baby, in the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

When men, like infants, run to and fro chasing every wind, double minded in all their ways, their bough and bow, their security and strength, will break, and down they’ll come, power and all. 

However, remember, it was God, who was speaking to Hosea.

His Word is alive and powerful. The Word of God is quick (alive) and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword…Hebrews 4:12.

His Word is seed.  (Matthew 13:19, Mark 4:14, Luke 8:11).

His Word will not return void.  God says His Word is like rain that comes out of heaven and waters the earth and will not return void, but will prosper in the thing whereunto it was sent. Isaiah 55:10-11.

His Word was not only to Hosea, but to a nation, and to us. And U.S.

Notice, God sowed the word Jezreel, three times in two verses, four times in this tiny chapter with only eleven verses.

When God repeats Himself one time, pay attention, it’s important. When He repeats Himself, three times, really pay close attention, He’s teaching a timeless valuable, life changing lesson.

The word Jezreel means, God sows.

If God sows, you can be sure and certain, He’s planning a harvest.   

If we jumped a half-dozen verses, we’d see Jezreel again; sounding a whole lot like a great big harvest. But don’t do it.  We’ll look at that, when the time is ripe. 

If we pay attention and dig a little deeper, we’ll see there’s another meaning to the phrase, break the bow.

Remember, many times, prophecy has interpretation, near and far; spiritual and natural.

Psalm 46:9 He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.

 

Isaiah 2:1-5 and Micah 4:1-4.  He will Judge. They will beat swords into plowshares. They shall learn war, no more.

Break the bow, may also mean a time of peace. A time when weapons of war are no more.

It’s important to note Who initiates the peace…and how it will come.

He makes wars to cease.

He will Judge.

That day will be a day of the Lord’s making. Without His intervention, that day, will never come.

The Prince of Peace will come. Will judge. Will make peace.

No matter how hard we try. No matter who sits on the throne, or in the White House, the governments of man will come to naught. Then, He will come, and straighten out the mess we’ve made. The government shall be upon His shoulders. And, the increase of His government of peace and judgement and justice, there shall be no end.

We say it every Christmas.

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

 

Only God can bring everlasting peace on earth, good will toward men. And one day, on that day, when He knows, the harvest is ripe and ready, He will.   

But, not without a fight.

Many will rock, many boughs and bows will break, many cradles, castles and nest eggs, will come crashing down.

But those who are His can say without fear or hesitation, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He’s watching me. If my nest crumbles, I simply know, it’s His Divine time, for me to fly.”

Behind the scenes, the battle lines for, that day, were drawn a long, long time ago…but only recently have they risen to the surface. We can see them in living color, gathering for battle, sword rattling, fang flashing, right before our very eyes.

When will this be? What will happen next? What should we do? How should we prepare?

Glad you asked.

Let’s look and listen to what God says next…

TO BE CONTINUED.