Year 2, Week 5, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 5, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Hosea 7-10.

Today’s reading continues the prophet Hosea’s words to Israel. Hosea 7 revisits the judgment upon Israel: “When I restore the fortunes of my people, when I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria, for they deal falsely; the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside. But they do not consider that I remember all their evil” (Hosea 6:11-7:2). In spite of their condemnation but also in light of the LORD’s promise of restoration, the people did not change their ways. Hosea 8 specifies Israel’s unfaithfulness in two expressions: “For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds” (Hosea 8:14). Israel’s spiritual adultery was expressed through idolatry and alliances with other nations. Beginning in Hosea 9 and continuing through to the end of Hosea 10, three of a total of four images are described that each depict the deserved imminent judgment awaiting Israel. Israel was once like a desired fruit that is no more: “Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers…Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit” (Hosea 9:10,16). Israel was once like a vine, but it is now overgrown with weeds: “Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built…The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars” (Hosea 10:1,8). Israel was well a trained work cow who would now reap trouble: “Ephraim was a trained calf that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will put Ephraim to the yoke; Judah must plow…you have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies” (Hosea 10:11,13).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the context surrounding a statement that has become well-known: “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8;7). Hosea is describing the actions of Israel and inseparably liking their actions to consequences. Like an adulterous wife, Israel had been covenantally unfaithful to the LORD: “Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me. They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me” (Hosea 7:13-14). Israel had forgotten their God, but they had not forgotten how to make a god. Israel had forgotten how to call upon the LORD in their troubles, but they had not forgotten how to call upon other nations to seek protective alliances: “For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. And the king and princes shall soon writhe because of the tribute” (Hosea 8:9-10). Israel’s unfaithfulness was expressed through worshiping false gods and making ineffective alliances. Neither kind of action would do them any good.

But the principle of sowing and reaping reveals more than simply our actions are untethered from consequences. Israel’s unfaithfulness certainly would not do them any good; but moreover, their unfaithfulness would actually do them great harm. Sowing bad actions does not merely result in no outcomes; sowing bad actions most certainly should be understood to result in bad outcomes. In fact, the principle of sowing and reaping conveys the idea that while reaping flows from sowing, reaping occurs in greater proportionality than sower. We always reap more of what we sow. The thing reaped is related to the thing sowed, but it comes in a larger measure than the thing sowed. It seems that the LORD builds something of an automatic judgment into our sinful actions. The desires that drive us coalesce with our sinful actions and the automatic result is devastating consequences: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves” (Romans 1:24). 

The principle of sowing and reaping operates positively as well: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8). Paul positively applies the principle of sowing and reaping to financially supporting those who minister the Word: “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches” (Galatians 6:6); as well as in persistently doing good: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). And finally, there are moments of abundant grace when the LORD intervenes and He does the work of sowing so that His people can receive the benefits of reaping: “I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant” (Joshua 24:13).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe