Replacing God

“Our attempts to overthrow God will leave us overthrown.”

Hosea 8:3-8
(3)  Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
(4)  They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
(5)  Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
(6)  For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
(7)  For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
(8)  Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

Explanation

The Northern Kingdom of Israel had abandoned the true God, Jehovah (i.e., “Israel… cast off the thing that is good,” v. 3). They abandoned His counsel (i.e., “set up kings, but not by me… made princes… I knew it not,” v. 4). They adapted the idolatry of the nations around them (“idols,” v. 4; “calf,” v. 5; “it is not God,” v. 6).

What could Israel expect to gain from her abandonment of Jehovah? Emptiness (“reap the whirlwind,” “no stalk,” “no meal,” v. 7) and exile from their land (“shall they be among the Gentiles,” v. 8).

We gain nothing by turning away from God and everything when we turn to Him.