In fact, there is an absolutely vital secret here, which is the mystical meaning of the verse “and by the ministry of the prophets have I used symbols.”39Hosea 12:11. For in fact there is a Divine will here that these symbols, which operate only in the souls of the receivers, should appear to the souls as though He Himself participates in them, in order to greatly increase the understanding of the souls.
This is similar to a father who restrains himself and shows his dear little son a suffering face or a contented face, even though there is nothing of either sadness or contentment within him. He does this only to stimulate his beloved son and deepen his understanding, in order to play with him. Only when he grows up will he learn and realize that everything his father did was no more than simply playing with him.