Sow and Reap

Series: April Showers

Hosea 10:12 ESV

The book of Hosea is an interesting read.

As we begin, Hosea, we learn that Israel is not in a good place with God. The bottom line is that God had blessed Israel, and given them what they asked for, but they spent the blessing unwisely. The strange thing about Israel and God and the blessing is that Israel did not spend it unwisely because they forgot. They did not honor God with the blessing he had given them, because they chose not to spend it wisely.

In today’s world, it would be akin to a child who was given a blessing, and they knew what they should do with the blessing, but they chose to do the wrong thing. Israel was double-minded.

In the end they chose to squander the blessing.

So I have to ask, what would you do if it was your child?

In Hosea 10:12 we read God response.

God told the Prophet in Hosea 10:12,

‘Sow righteousness, reap love.It’s time to till the ready earth, it’s time to dig in with God,Until he arrives with righteousness ripe for harvest.’”

At first reading, we might think God has gone easy on Israel.

We might think God is simply giving Israel a gentle reminder.

That is not the case.

Picture yourself sitting with your child who has squandered a great gift you gave him.

You thought your child understood the importance of the gift but you find instead they squandered it away.

I’ve told You before that, my dad was a great teacher. I think if the child would’ve been me who spent a great gift unwisely my dad would have done an object lesson.

He would’ve gone to the basement and carefully selected I shoveled. I don’t know what the shovel is called but he had a shovel that was narrow and long, and when the shovel was put into the soil, it went down deep into the soil. I pictured he would have selected that shovel.

He would’ve held the shovel up and he would’ve asked me how this shovel was used.

More than likely, I would’ve rolled my eyes and looked at him and said something like ‘to dig dirt’.

At this point, he would’ve realized I was missing the point. He would’ve instructed me on the purpose of this shovel. He would’ve reminded me this shovel goes down and the soil. It goes down deep.

Oh.

Now I was getting the point. I would sigh and admit it was about reaping and sowing as God would have us reap and sow.

Then my dad would have talked about the importance of righteousness and love. He would have said something like when we sow properly we reap a good reward.

The lightbulb would have gone off in my head. And I would have said oh it’s about Israel doing the right thing because of love but not just any love.

If they would have turned to God they would have made the right choice in love.

Voila!

God was reminding Israel how to make good choices. GOOD choices that were right and filled with love.

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com