Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Israel cries out to me, “My God, we know you! ”Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him. They have installed kings, but not through me. They have appointed leaders, but without my approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction. Your calf-idol is rejected, Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? For this thing is from Israel — a craftsman made it, and it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits! Indeed, they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. Hosea 8:2-7a
What Are You Sowing?
As a Christian, we have access to the only thing that will ever bring us fullness and joy, and that is abundant life in Jesus Christ. As humans, we seek that abundance in other places, and it always leads to destruction, brokenness, and loss. The nation of Israel was no different. They sinned against God and their actions led to God’s judgement.
Hosea lived and prophesied during a time known as "the Divided Kingdom" in Israel. The nation of Israel had been through a civil war and split into two kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel, where Hosea lived, and the southern kingdom of Judah. God called Hosea to minister to this broken and morally declining nation, while also instructing him to take a prostitute for his wife and to remain faithful to her even while she remained in her sin. Hosea was willing to sacrifice to be this powerful illustration of God’s love and to point others to him. This relationship was meant to be symbolic of God’s endless love for a people who were unfaithful to him. They had turned to other gods for answers, and to other nations for help instead of turning to God. Through the prophet Hosea, God sent them a warning and a call to repentance with an invitation to return to him. God wanted to restore his relationship with Israel. Much like what happens to us when we have sin in our lives, Israel was blinded and confused by sin. They were caught in a cycle of sin that had caused them to forget their one true God and his love.
In the passage above Hosea compares Israel’s rebellion to sowing the wind, meaning emptiness. No matter how hard you grab, when you are trying to get a fistful of wind, you end up with nothing. That is what it is like to reach for fulfillment and satisfaction anywhere else but in Jesus. Worse, when we sow the wind, we reap the whirlwind. When we live our life pursuing and following anything else but Jesus, not only will we end up emptier than before, but there will also be consequences if we don’t stop, repent, and follow Jesus. This was the warning Hosea gave Israel from God. Their worshipping of false gods, empty pursuits, and refusal to align with God would bring discipline from God.
Hosea’s prophecy and story are for us as well. Let us not forget that true fullness and joy only comes from surrendering our own desires and will and following Jesus. The world and all it offers – idols, drugs, sex, money, things – never satisfy or bring that fullness and joy we so desperately seek. We are sowing wind when we turn to all these things instead of him. Let us also not forget the faithfulness and unending love our Heavenly Father has for us. Just as was depicted in Hosea’s story – even when we are unfaithful to him, he seeks to restore our relationship with him. He chased after his people – Israel – and in his perfect love, he disciplined them to lead them away from their own undoing and back to his open arms.
What are you sowing? Are you sowing wind? Are you willing to sacrifice for his glory and the good of others? If so, surrender to him today and start following him where you will find fullness and joy and true abundant life.
