When we heard the city’s tornado alarm, for some reason, my wife and I did not seek shelter downstairs as usual. Instead, we foolishly sat in our living room to watch the storm. Soon we heard an unusual sound. “That’s strange,” I said. “Sounds like a train, doesn’t it?” Suddenly we realized: there was no train coming—a tornado was tearing through our town! Though our home was spared, others were not. We will not forget that evening. Whenever we witness the destruction caused by a tornado or hurricane, we stand in awe, wondering what could produce winds of such intensity. But we don’t have to wonder what causes similar scenes of spiritual destruction, for Hosea 8 makes it plain. Surprisingly, the answer is related more to agronomy than meteorology! God has the universe wired in such a way that planting produces harvest. In the spiritual realm, there is a direct correspondence between what we do today and what will happen to us later. To use Hosea’s language, when we “sow the wind,” we shall “reap the whirlwind” (v 7). The chapter begins with a siren. It’s not a tornado alarm, but a call to arms. Israel is in terrible danger, and the trumpet blast should get their attention. An enemy is attacking because Israel has broken God’s covenant and refused to obey His law. They cry out to Him now, as if they know Him, but God is not so easily manipulated by a people who have rejected what is good (v 1-3). Their kings should have encouraged obedience to God, but instead, they led the people into idolatry. Despite the devotion we give to our God-substitutes, they never produce the happiness we desire. If only Israel could have seen in advance that “they made idols for their own destruction” (v 4-6). Since they would not accept the blessings of obedience to God, He is now ensuring that they will not be blessed at all. God says that if they trust in flimsy alliances (sowing the wind), they will only make their situation worse (reaping the whirlwind), for those nations will become their invaders. Input determines output. Their rebellion against God will lead to crop failure; and even if they were to yield a harvest, “strangers would devour it” (v 7-10). With great miracles and acts of power, God had rescued the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. Now, because they have “multiplied altars for sinning,” forgotten their Maker, and shown total disregard for His laws, “they shall return to Egypt.” Israel has come full circle. They will be sent back to captivity again, for God is not mocked. A severe storm is brewing (v 11-14). For further meditation: