Among those who are strong in spirit, the courageous shall flee on foot that day.
While I have shown you kindness and delivered you from the land of Egypt, and have cast out the Amorites before you so you could inherit their land, and called prophets from among your own sons and dedicated young men as Nazoreans, you offered wine to my Nazoreans and told the prophets, “You shall not prophesy.” Thus, like a cart weighed down with straw that creaks and groans over a wide expanse, I can no longer bear your sins. As I let you drift like straw destined for burning, I declare, “The nimble will find no escape,” referring to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who fled to Egypt (1 Kings 11). Yet, this does not implicate the princes directly, but rather signifies their lineages and descendants.
“Nor shall the strong retain his power," referring to Baasha, who was renowned for his martial prowess (2 Samuel 15). "And the vigorous shall not save his life" pertains to Omri. “And he who draws the bow shall not withstand,” denoting Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, who struck down Joram, king of Israel (2 Kings 9). “And the swift-footed shall not find salvation,” meaning Menahem, who hastily sought to appease the king of Assyria in vain (2 Kings 15). “And he who rides on a horse shall not preserve his life,” referring to Pul, son of Reumaliah, who, in alliance with Syria, ravaged much of Judah during King Ahaz’s reign (2 Kings 16). “And those steadfast in spirit among the brave shall flee on foot that day,” says the Lord.
Only Hosea, the last king of the ten tribes who lamented the wandering people and sought their return to God's service, shall flee from destruction. He is described as naked since he witnessed the captivity of the ten tribes. This understanding is a Jewish tradition and has been accurately conveyed to us. Thus, let us return to our interpretation. God warns that a cart, which symbolizes burden, loaded with hay or straw will shift beneath them, so their unharvested hay shall be consumed by fire. This refers to the hay about which the prophet states, “let them be like grass in the field that withers before the harvest” (Psalms 128:6), and “all flesh is grass” (Isaiah 40:6).
The straw represents the sorrowful loss lamented by the prophet: “I long for my beloved, for I am like one who gathers straw during harvest and like a lone grape-picker; I find no clusters to eat. Woe is me, for the godly have vanished from the earth, and the righteous among men have perished; they all lie hidden in blood” (Micah 7:1-2). These are the hay and straw referenced by the Apostle: “wood, hay, stubble; each work will be revealed” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13), and in the day of the Lord, they shall be unveiled by fire.
The revolving cart symbolizes the higher truth mentioned in Isaiah: “the Moabites will be trampled like a cart treaded underfoot” (Isaiah 33:10). In another proclamation, He states: “I will make you like a new threshing sledge, sharp and with teeth; you will shred the mountains and crush the hills” (Isaiah 41:15). Once the mountains and hills fall, the swift will have no means to escape, as Paul expresses, “Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one receives the prize?” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Elsewhere, he explains the divine truth: “You are running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7).
Therefore, fearing for himself, he asserts, “But I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Philippians 3:12). All these efforts aim to ensure that the agile do not lose the avenue of escape. When he had accomplished his mission and received his reward, he confidently affirmed, “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). If we run swiftly, sin will have no power to ensnare us; and if evil attempts to trip us, we echo the prophet’s words, “Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7).
The Apostle warns that victory does not depend on “the will of man or the race,” but solely on the grace of God (Romans 9:16). Thus, “the strong shall not retain his strength,” not because of his might, but since he takes pride in it, or trusts in his own capabilities instead of God’s mercy. As it’s written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent” (1 Corinthians 1:19). This does not mean that true wisdom or understanding of the truth will cease, but that the arrogance of those who consider themselves wise and rely on their intellect will fail.
Moreover, the strong or the valiant represented here is one who lacks the complete armor of the apostles, having a shield but not the shield of faith, girding their loins but devoid of truth, donning armor yet lacking righteousness, wielding a sword yet without the sword of salvation (Ephesians 6). Such a warrior is ill-prepared for the holy battle and cannot engage in the Lord’s conflict while contending for falsehood against truth. This warrior cannot utter, “Blessed be the Lord my God, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1).
Even the heretics wield bows and arrows, but their shots are futile against the arrow of the Lord, who proclaims through Isaiah, “I am like a polished arrow in the quiver of the Lord” (Isaiah 49:2). David echoes this sentiment: “The wicked bend their bows; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart” (Psalm 11:2).
The prophet warns that the fleet-footed shall not be saved, signifying those who, through cleverness, dart from one scripture to another, employing eloquence and dialectical cunning to distort the truth. They will be left bewildered and fall because they do not trust in God but rely on their own dexterity. The horseman, who disregards the wisdom in the prophet’s admonition that “the horse is a false hope for salvation” (Psalm 32:17) and neglects the truth that “the horses of all peoples shall perish” (Psalm 75:7), will ultimately fail to save his life. Instead, he will perish and recall the words, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God; they are brought down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright” (Psalm 20:7-8).
Lastly, the steadfast among the brave will flee on foot. This can be understood in two ways: either they escape because they have put off the old man and the burdens of sin, lightened in spirit, or they are naked and lack the garment of Christ, as the Apostle admonishes, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). Alternatively, it could suggest being unclothed in such a way that without Christ’s covering, one will be powerless on the day of battle. Lacking the full armor that the apostles provide to withstand adversaries, such a one will ultimately fall away in defeat.
THEOSIS