The Direction the Wind Blows

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%208-14&version=NIV

“I will have no compassion, even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.” - Hosea 13:15

You might be wondering why I chose to center on this verse today. Does it matter from which direction the wind blows? As I was studying and deciding what to write about, I read the text notes in my archeological study bible. The note for verse 15 explained that “In a literal sense, wind from the east came to Palestine over the desert, making it a hot, dry wind that brings sand and dust. An east wind brought the plague of locusts on Egypt (Exodus 10:13) and dried up the sea so the Israelites could cross over dry land (Exodus 14:21). Many references mention the destructive results of the east wind; thin and withered heads of grain (Gen. 41:6), broken ships (Eze. 27:26), withered plants (Eze. 17:10), dried fountains (Hosea 13:15) and Jonah’s fainting spell (Jonah 4:8). The east wind was used as a means of judgment by God and here is a figure for Assyria, an instrument of destruction.”

So for the northern kingdom, it did matter from which direction the wind blew. In his message of judgment and warning spoke through Hosea, God very purposefully described the wind to be an ‘east’ wind because he knew that the people would understand the destruction brought by this wind. God made his message of judgment very clear to him.

But why does this detail matter to us? First, I think that it is important to point out why studying the word of God is so important. By studying I mean not just reading or memorizing or answering questions in a bible study, but digging down deep. Studying God’s word means finding out about the context in which his word was spoken so we understand exactly what he was saying. God’s word is his revelation of himself to us. If we want a more complete picture of God, we MUST have a more complete picture of his word. We must be diligent to not just read but to study and to dig and to search for understanding. This is foundational to our faith, because by doing this, we get a greater picture of God, his attributes, and his character. It’s like getting to know the person you will marry (since we are in a covenant love relationship with God). You don’t want to just know what they look like on the outside, but your heart desires to know each deep intimate detail about their hearts and minds as well.

What does the east wind reveal to us about God? It reveals his character and the way he communicates to us. The message here is that God is not a God who keeps himself hidden. He doesn’t want us to play a guessing game about who he is or what he’s saying. He lovingly reveals himself to those who seek diligently after him. What we also learn that when he has something he wants us to know, he isn’t vague, but is very clear. He didn’t just warn the people that it would get a little windy, but he used the east wind to describe his judgment because he knew the message would be very clearly understood.

So rest, my friends, in knowing that God WILL reveal to you what he wants you to know. He will reveal it very clearly. Your job is quite simple – seek him diligently and believe him – take him at his word. He will do the rest.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity.” – Jeremiah 29:13-14