Prophetic Justice

Justice. Who knew when I named this calf a few years ago, she would be a prophetic cow?? The first round of spiritual insight was surrounding a difficult delivery she had. You can read about it on the original Facebook posts here and here. Then this past February as I was recording information from my annual cow calendar on the computer, I was captivated by the fact that Justice was bred (by Abraham the bull) on July 4th. Justice conceived on INDEPENDENCE DAY! That is pretty cool in and of itself. Significant for America, you know? The calculations indicated she would be due to calve around April 11th. Of course a due date is just an approximation, and I have been waiting with great anticipation to see when she would actually deliver and what significance the timing of the event might have in a prophetic sense.

Well, Sunday April 4th was that day! Easter, the day when Christians celebrate (at least on the Gregorian calendar) the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus was the ultimate act of justice, because the curse the earth had been living under was reversed. The death sentence humanity had faced because of the deception of satan was demolished! We need no longer be slaves to sin...it was for freedom that Christ has set us free!

The celebration of Passover begins on Nisan 14 (March 27th this year). The resurrection of Jesus occurred 3 days later, on Nisan 17. I was really hoping Justice would calve on Nisan 17 because it would have been like an exclamation point on several amazing things God has taught me about that date in biblical history. But the day came and went without a calf. However, April 4th was the 8th day of Passover this year. And I learned that this is a day the Jews associate with the coming Messiah and His redemption (remember Abraham sired Justice's calf)! Though many Jews have not yet recognized that Jesus is the promised one prophesied throughout the scriptures, this day is actually a reminder of Him. Passover was and is a picture of Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God, and the 8th day of Passover this year coincided with the Christian celebration of what the Lamb of God did for us!

I have been expectantly watching to see if Justice's delivery coincides with any significant developments in our nation, specifically for the fact that she conceived on July 4th, a day celebrating freedom. While the current trajectory appears to be one that will erode freedom and even faith in God if possible, I believe that is not what God wants for us, nor for the rest of the world. The Lord loves justice, and I and many others are standing in faith that justice is coming soon for so many around the world. For those enslaved and abused in human trafficking and in political and genocidal concentration (or "re-education") camps, for those enslaved economically, for people who experience and daily live with racial injustice, for all who live in fear for one reason or another, and the list goes on. I can't summarize here all the things He's been revealing to me the past few months, but this cow alone is showing me He is at work in all things. Below are some more insights I feel like the Lord has shown me about the cow and the date:

That morning we milked the two cows who had previously calved, probably between 8 and 8:30. Justice came through the milking parlor, but there was nothing that tipped me off that this would be the day she would calve. We went to church, and when we came home I could see from the road that she was in labor, laying down and pushing. By the time I got my clothes changed and walked to the pasture, the baby had arrived, a little before noon. I sense God is saying through this that Justice's delivery is both unexpected and swift.

Usually Justice has a very mild temperament. She's not a pet, but she's fairly calm and easy-going. When that baby came out she was a different animal. I wanted to see whether the calf was a bull or a heifer. But it became very apparent she had no intention of letting me get close. She let me know through some very convincing body language she was not to be trifled with. So I had to wait! Jesus is both the sacrificial Lamb of God and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He came to earth as a baby, exemplified humility, and gave His life so that we could have abundant life. But as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, His roar alone causes His enemies to tremble in fear. I have heard and read of several people having prophetic dreams this winter about the Lion of the tribe of Judah coming on the scene, and let's just say rebellious and evil hearts were no match for the fear of the Lord. You don't mess with the Lion.

April 4th this year was Nisan 22 on the Hebrew calendar. I learned that it was on this day in ancient Israel's history that, following Joshua's instructions, the Israelites circled the city of Jericho for the first of seven days. Led by the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant and blowing 7 rams' horns, the people were silent. They circled the city once each day this way until the 7th day. On the 7th day they repeated the process a total of 7 times. When the final blast of the rams' horns sounded, Joshua instructed the people to shout, and it was with that shout that the walls came down. An impassible city's fortifications were reduced to rubble. By nothing more than ram horn trumpets and a mighty shout...and the presence of God. Which of course is where the real power lies. This reminds me that there is no scheme of the enemy, and no man-made defense that is impenetrable by Almighty God. Surprisingly enough, He invites us (weak, imperfect, fallible little us) to partner with Him. There is a time for silence and a time for shouting. Shouting just for the heck of it is simply a bunch of racket. But if you shout in response to what the Lord is doing, you just might see walls fall down.

Oh yeah...the heifer calf's name? Jubilee. And Jubilee is all about returning to the original owner what has been lost. So Justice the cow has delivered a Jubilee. If God speaks through cows, there are some incredibly amazing days ahead, friends!