BIBLE TEXT | HOSEA 8:7 ______________________________________________________​ ___​ ___________________________________________________ 7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it ​ were to yield, strangers would devour it. DEVOTIONAL FOR HOSEA 8:7 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AUTHOR: CLARESSA BARRETT Most everyone has probably heard of “universal laws” or “natural laws”. The theory of natural law is that humans possess an intrinsic sense of right and wrong which governs our reasoning and behavior. These concepts are ancient, stemming from the times of Plato and Aristotle. And they are considered constant throughout time and across cultures because they are based on human nature as a whole. Some examples of these laws are The Law of Relativity, The Law of Attraction, and probably the most well known, The Law of Cause and Effect. Why does any of this matter? While the principle of sowing and reaping is not specifically listed as one of these laws, one could argue that it falls under The Law of Cause and Effect - every action has a reaction. I think you would find very few people in the world that could argue with this principle. You don’t have to look far to see that what a farmer sows, he will reap (or harvest). And what’s more, if he doesn’t do anything, he will still reap, but it will likely look more like weeds. In a hugely agricultural society like Israel, you can see why God used sowing and reaping to make a spiritual point. When we sow to our flesh (sin), we will reap destruction (Galatians 6:7-9). This is a promise of Scripture. Too often, we are like Israel; we think God doesn’t see our sin or is somehow letting us get away with it (Hosea 7:2). But there are always consequences to our sin whether we see it today or in the future. And our sin does not allow us to experience the blessings that God has for us (John 15:10-11). I have personally tested both the promises of God’s blessings and consequences of sin. I can identify with Israel and Gomer. You see, part of my story is adultery. Even caught up in the midst of my affair, living a duplicitous lifestyle, I was never satisfied (Hosea 8:7; 9:1-2). And what I now see as God’s incredible grace, I finally got to a place where I was too exhausted to keep living that life. While I walked away from it, and asked God for forgiveness, I still kept it hidden for far too long. In many ways, I thought I had escaped the worst of the consequences of that sin. But ultimately, my marriage ended and, TEN years later, I had to sit face-to-face and beg for forgiveness from the woman I had hurt deeply in this affair. To this day, that was one of the most difficult days of my life. My heart grieved. “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” - Unknown ​ ​ As a child of God, He has forgiven me and redeemed my life in ways I never thought possible. He loves to take what the enemy means for destruction and use it for good (Genesis 50:20). He has shown me my incredible brokenness and desperate need for a Savior, EVERY SINGLE DAY. I cannot trust my own wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6). I cannot live this life without daily walking with Him (John 15:5). Neither could Israel and neither can you. You will reap what you sow. And you will not like what you reap if you sow sin...a whirlwind of destruction (James 1:14-15). But if you are in the midst of that whirlwind, there is a Savior who wants to rescue you, if you will let Him (Romans 5:8; 1 John 1:9). Questions: 1. Read Galatians 5:16-24. What are the “fruits” mentioned in this passage? Are you reaping the fruit of walking with the Spirit or the flesh? Would others in your life agree with you? 2. Is there anything in particular you are sowing in your life right now that is contrary to God’s Word? (e.g. Are you in conflict with someone that you are not resolving? Are you abiding in His Word daily?) Confess those things to your Journey Group. If you are not in a group, please reach out to [email protected]. ​ 3. Has God redeemed sin in your life? Who have you shared your story with lately? .