life under the rock
“Then they shall cry out to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ and to the hills, ‘Fall upon us!’ ” —Hosea 10:8
As Jesus was being led to His crucifixion, He prophesied to the women of Jerusalem, “Do not weep for Me. Weep for yourselves and for your children…They will begin saying to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us’ ” (Lk 23:28, 30). Jesus says that the people of Jerusalem will quote Hosea 10:8, instantly recognizing their doomed fate and longing to be “protected” by the cover of the rocks. Sadly, they did not instantly recognize the mercy of God; they perceived it as His “wrath.” How ironic that Jesus had come precisely for these lost sheep.
Scripture prophesies that on the Day of the Lord, many will hide “themselves in caves and mountain crags. They [will cry] out to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us! Hide us from the face of the One Who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! The great day of vengeance has come’ ” (Rv 6:15-17). Those who have disdained God suddenly have a dread realization that God is triumphant. Tragically, they trust the rocks and hills will be more merciful than God. “Men will go into caves in the rocks and into holes in the earth, from the terror of the Lord, and the splendor of His majesty, when He arises to overawe the earth” (Is 2:19).
We must realize the triumph of God today, in case we no longer have time to repent later (see Hos 10:12). Sadly, those who never bothered to know the merciful Lamb of God fear Him the wrong way. Rather than begging the Lamb to have mercy on them, they instead cry out to the rocks and hills to protect them from the Lamb’s “wrath” (see Rv 6:15-17). Today, put yourself under the cover of Jesus the Rock (1 Cor 10:4). Repent now before it’s too late.
Prayer: Jesus, Rock of Ages, may Your mercy “fall upon us” and “cover us,” now and forever.
Promise: “The reign of God is at hand!” —Mt 10:7
Praise: Belinda had a tubal ligation. Years later, she repented and expressed it by adopting a baby girl.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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