Sow The Wind, Reap The Whirlwind

Hosea’s prophecy is directed against the nation Israel (v. 1a), because they have transgressed God’s “covenant” (v. 1b). Although Israel shall cry out, “my God, we know thee” (v. 2), God knows they are not sincere, because they rejected Him. Therefore, “the enemy shall pursue him” (v. 3). Many professing believers may claim to know God. But at the end (Rev 20:12), Jesus would say to them, “I never knew you: depart from me” (Mt 7:23)! Israel have set up kings and princes against the Lord, but they were also steeped in idolatry (v. 4), which God calls “an abomination” (Deut 7:25).

They made some well-crafted idols, but God will break them “in pieces” (v. 6). Hosea said, “they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” It means that Israel shall receive God’s judgment that is far worse than the sin they have committed! In farming, one kernel of corn can contribute to a yield of about 178 bushels. Our sin is usually sown over a long period of time, but it is often reaped in a contracted period of God’s judgment (Gal 6:7). Many today who lives ungodly lifestyles may desire to change. However, they are still unable to conquer their sinful desires because they only tried to turn over a new leaf.

Those hidden sins will simply hibernate and wake up “worse with them than the beginning” (2 Pet 2:20). Only genuine salvation by faith “through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1), and true repentance (Acts 20:21), can defeat that old nature (Col 3:9), and give a new life “in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17)! When we view our lives through God’s perspective of sowing and reaping, then those little sins that we sow here and there can actually yield a huge harvest of God’s judgment and chastisement (Prov 3:12). It would be far better if we would sow more righteousness instead of sin! God bless you!

-Pastor Melito Barrera