For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. I will make for you a covenant on that day with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will take you for my wife for ever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord. (Hosea 2: 17-20)

Israel has pursued the wrong purposes. Gomer has chosen the wrong masters. Each has exchanged ultimate value for ephemeral value.

These choices will not produce happy results. Sooner or later these choices will bring trouble. But God is working to seduce Israel and Gomer away from these poor choices.

God will convert the Valley of Achor (trouble) into a door of hope. God will even use the troubles as part of the seduction.

When the ephemeral is put away and the ultimate is embraced then God's intention will be realized: a harmonious relationship with the natural world and no war between men.

In accepting God's intention as our purpose we will experience the fruits of righteousness, justice, love, mercy and faith.