Greetings Barb,
Thank you so much for the beautiful and encouraging reply and for taking the time! I wanted to take time to meditate on the dream and your offering before replying and to share thoughts with yours. I certainly have to deal with daily scatterings of life in these days.
When looking at the dream, I could see either good or not so good but I have to agree with much of your wonderfully worded reply. I did pray about work before sleeping that night. I think of the ox as an exceedingly strong animal and symbol of work, beast of burden (but I cannot think of anywhere in the Bible that the Lord is represented as a symbol of an animal). But you are right, the ox is the strong servant! In the Bible, the ox was the most valued possession, held in high esteem and used in farming and work much like we use tractors today. They also tread wheat and corn. And, in the laws of Moses, they were protected and were to enjoy the Sabbath, rest, with its master. And, they were also instruments of sacrifice and offerings.
Deuteronomy 25:4 says “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain” which is to say, the worker [ox] is worthy to partake of the fruit of the labor while it works. Spiritually speaking, it can be likened being fed while doing work which feeds others.
As I contemplated your offerings which in many ways did witness to my spirit, I found so much about the ox in the Bible that I have yet gotten through it all and had not noticed before. The ox represented one of the 4 living creatures before the throne of God.
(and the ox was an emblem for the tribe of Ephraim in the Talmud meaning "double fruit". Ephraim, son of Joseph, was named in Genesis 41:52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”). It is interesting that in Numbers 7, 6 “covered wagons” and 12 oxen were given as offerings to Moses, and God told Moses to accept them for transporting the Tent of Meeting. Moses gave them to the Levites (Gershonites and Merarites) to be used for the Lord’s work under the direction of Aaron.
I think you were right about the number of the horses, I do believe there were 4 horses behind the ox. As for what I can see in the Bible, horses are mostly symbolized as objects of war, movements, or carriers … the stagecoach is also a carrier of people and cargo. I see horses as an animal of strength and beauty as well as a means of transportation. But it was peaceful and laid down. I can see where you get gifting from horses; gift horses. I never thought of coaching like you brought up. And, indeed I do spend plenty of time in the kitchen these days.
Your reply certainly helped me to think more outside of the box! I also especially like what you said, “Regardless, it is an entity that does not move on its own at all - totally dependent on the working together of all the power ministries to carry it on.” They were all together working in unity. Even in interpreting dreams, it often takes several people to piece together understanding of dreams. God knows dreams give me Biblical challenges, which I love, to understand dreams.
Postings like yours causes me to dig deeper and think outside of the box which I wouldn't necessarily have done otherwise which makes them immensely helpful.
Again, thank you very much Barb for your delightful offering, God bless you and your family and the works of your hands!
