“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind….” Hosea 8:7
Windstorms wield a tremendous amount of power. A tornado or hurricane can topple massive trees, turn over cars, and completely demolish buildings. The wind is directional, and its direction can change very quickly. The Israelites were very fickle spiritually. They had a difficult time remaining steadfast in their worship of Jehovah. They had heard His voice at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20), but within forty days they had made a golden calf and had begun to worship it. In the days of the judges, they would return to the Lord for a few years at a time and then quickly become enamored with the idols of another nation. During the years of the monarchy, there were many more kings who allowed or encouraged idol worship than those who were faithful to the Lord. God sent His prophets to preach of judgment, and sometimes the people would heed the message and turn to the Lord; but they usually either ignored the prophets or persecuted and killed them. Even when they tried to repent, their repentance did not last. By saying that the people of Israel had sowed to the wind, God was saying that they had turned a different direction. They turned away from the Lord and served other gods. When God said that they reaped the whirlwind, He was declaring that their chastening would be more severe because of their prolonged disobedience. The brief pleasure of living for sin and self is never worth the sorrow and pain brought on by failing to obey God’s Word.
Morning: Hosea 5-8
Evening: Revelation 2