The wind is something that has both beneficial and destructive principles. Most of the time, the wind pushes along nature’s cycle that allows for plants to be pollinated and weather systems to move. On occasion, its speeds can form a hurricane or tornado that leave destruction in its path. Hosea uses this as a metaphor when he explains to Israel the impending judgment. It shows you need to be careful what you sow.
Hosea 8:7
“For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up.”
Sowing the Wind
This is a harsh judgment that is being brought against Israel. Hosea uses the principle of reaping and sowing to point out their folly. They have sown the wind, and they reaped the whirlwind. Obviously, you can’t sow the wind, but Hosea uses it to illustrate why they are in the midst of the storm. They have brought this on themselves. Next, he describes how Israel sowed wheat, but there was no grain when it came up. They were useless plants, and if some did produce grain, it was stolen by strangers. This paints a haunting picture of how bad it is for Israel.
Sow the Word of God
You can probably look at your current situation and point to choices that brought you to where you are. That goes for both the good and the bad. That should motivate our decisions for the future. God’s Word says over and over that if we obey it, things will go well, and if we don’t, things will go south. Sow the Word into your heart, and over time you will reap the decisions that were influenced by that.
Be Careful What You Sow
Hebrews 5:14 says that those who are able to eat the meat of the Word are able to have discernment and make the right choice between good and evil. Israel lost this during Hosea’s time even though they were still going through the religious motions. Desire the meat of the Word and let the Spirit do a work in your heart. It will prevent a fruitless harvest.