A Life of Death leads to More Death
Hosea 10, Deuteronomy 28:47-50, Galatians 6:7-9,
American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny”. In some way we see this play out for Israel throughout the Bible and through the book of Hosea. Chapter 10 is no different as we see God expose Israel's idol worship and the altars they built. Israel is reaping and bearing the consequences of the decisions and the actions they made and planted. As they made decision after decision to to turn away from God they found themselves in a place dealing and preparing to deal with the consequences of their actions. Where they found themselves was not a circumstance that happened over night, but a series of decisions that led them to where they were. Sin always leads to destruction and death.
We see the theme of reaping what you sow in Galtians 6:7 where Paul says “ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap”. Israel was experiencing the consequences and curse of breaking and breaching the covenant they made with God. They were experiencing the reality of what God said would happen if they were to break the covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Again in the midst of much despair and what seemed like hopelessness God leaves them with some hope and calls them to return and seek Him. In verse 12 of Hosea it calls us to obedience towards God, to seek Him and if we do that we can expect the Lord to shower His grace on us. Matthew Henry a pastor from the 1600’s comments on this verse and says “If we sow to ourselves in righteousness-if we be careful and diligent to do our duty, in a dependence upon his grace-he will shower down his grace upon us, will rain righteousness”. Henry goes on to say that we will receive grace and righteousness “not in merit, but in mercy”. We can’t earn it, it is His mercy.
The time to turn from sin and to turn from sowing wickedness is today. There is a saying that says “When is the best time to plant an apple tree? Thirty years ago. When’s the second best time? Today”. Are there sinful or unhelpful thoughts, actions, and habits you are sowing right now that will lead you to destruction? What good works, actions, or habits is God calling you to live into and plant? When we choose God we always experience and receive life in Him. The consequences of living in His design are always life, and always more of Himself
