Hosea's
message points out Ephraim's defection from God's plan for Israel.
Let's recall that Ephraim represents the birthright he inherited from
his father Joseph. In this context, Ephraim epitomizes the extension
of the intention Israel embodies in our Covenant with the Creator.
Ephraim symbolizes the rebel consciousness that rejects the unity of
God with Israel, and prefers to embrace idolatry. Ephraim's rebellion
antagonizes Judah's loyalty, crowned with the kingdom, which
chose to remain in Jerusalem.
“Ephraim
is joined to idols; let him alone.” (Hosea 4:17)
In
a deeper meaning, the strength of our intention to fulfill Israel's
destiny – the birthright inherited by Ephraim – has the power to
dominate and control the remaining aspects, levels and dimensions of
consciousness, represented by the Tribes of Israel, except for the
priesthood (Levi) and the kingship (Judah) that remained in
Jerusalem. Kingship is the culmination of God's will. This is why
Judah carries the Messianic Consciousness, the fulfillment of God's
final Redemption in the material world. The Messianic Consciousness
prevails above all. Judah and Levi remained loyal to Israel's
destiny, and stayed in Jerusalem while Ephraim rebelled and dragged
the remaining Tribes into idol worship.
“I,
even I, know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me; for now, O
Ephraim, you have committed harlotry, Israel is defiled.” (5:3)
If
one aspect of our consciousness is defiled by ego's fantasies and
negative ways, our entire consciousness is also defiled. In this
sense, there is no separation because our consciousness is one
despite its diverse traits, levels and dimensions. This implies that,
even if Judah and Levi remained in Jerusalem, they also ended up
defiled and corrupted by idol worship and wickedness.
“But
the pride of Israel shall testify to his face; and Israel and Ephraim
shall stumble in their iniquity, Judah also shall stumble with them.”
(5:5)
Our
Essence and true identity is defiled when we succumb to selfishness
and self centeredness under a false belief or feeling of lack, which
we satiate at the expense of our life and other people's lives. Thus
we understand what the Psalmist means when he wrote that the idol
makers become like their idols, the works of their hands. Hosea
eloquently illustrates the fate of Ephraim and Judah with their
choice to abandon God's Covenant with Israel. Hence it is up to us to
return to Him because He heals the wounds left by our negative
approach to life.
“I
will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their guilt,
and seek My face; in their trouble they will seek Me earnestly:
'Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for He has torn and He will
heal us, He has smitten and He will bind us up. After two days will
He revive us, on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live
in His Presence.” (5:15, 6:1-2)
Our
estrangement from the Creator is not long. It may last few days or as
long as we turn back to Him. Two days represent the two first temples
of Jerusalem. The third day is the Third Temple where we dwell
permanently with the Creator. As we yearn for God's Love, He also
yearns for our Love as the common bond with Him.
“For
I desire loving kindness and not sacrifices, and the knowledge of God
rather than burnt-offerings.” (6:6)
The
more we know our Creator, the more we love Him and become more
attached to Him. The foundation of the Messianic Consciousness is the
knowledge of God, and also its purpose as it is written by Isaiah.
God's Covenant with us is eternal, and we must be always aware of
this. In this awareness lies our true Redemption, as God promised
long before our estrangement from His Love.
“And
it shall be at that day, says the Lord, that you shall call Me Ishi,
and shall call Me no more Baali [my idol]. For I will take away
the names of the Baalim [idols] out of her mouth, and they shall no
more be mentioned by their name.” (2:18-19)
In
our awareness of God's Love in all dimensions of consciousness, He
clears them from the darkness of ego's fantasies and illusions. Our
consciousness becomes free from negative traits and tendencies,
symbolized by wild beasts as passions and sensual desires;
destructive thoughts and feelings represented by predatory fowls;
and lower passions and instincts depicted
as creeping animals.
“And
in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the
field, and with the fowls of the sky, and with the creeping things of
the ground; and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out
of the land, and will make them to lie down safely.” (2:20)
Our
conflicting, rebelling, confronting, antagonizing and potentially
violent beliefs, ideas and thoughts are the bows and swords that turn
life in a battleground. As we allow Love's ways, means, attributes
and ends direct and guide all levels of consciousness, we begin to
enter into our individual and collective Redemption. We begin to live
our Redemption as we marry our consciousness with Love, as the
material manifestation of God's Love.
“And
I will marry you to Me forever; yea, I will marry you to Me in
righteousness, and in justice, and in loving kindness, and in
compassion. And I will marry you to Me in faithfulness; and you shall
know the Lord.” (2:21-22)
In
the knowledge of God we redeem our existence in the freedom of the
ways and attributes of His Love, which are the heralds of the
Messianic Consciousness. As we recognize and embrace God's Love as
our Essence and true identity, and live by it as what we are, have
and do, we begin to live Heaven on Earth.
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