God Of The Harvest
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Growing up, we encountered people we thought were the models of success: straight A’s students, extremely gifted colleagues, great sportsmen, and colleagues from very affluent families whose inheritances were in no question!
These models have been revised. Life has a way of shuffling things up, making it very unpredictable to men. I have observed, and tried to understand certain things in life; and got very confused!
I tried to understand how two people study the same thing, and practice the same thing; but one becomes rich and one becomes poor!
I tried to understand how one man puts himself to diligent studies, and becomes poor; and another who did not subject himself to such diligent study becomes rich!
I tried to understand why some who want children do not get children; and those who do not want the children easily have them!
I don’t understand how the pious die; and the wicked continue to live!
I don’t understand how virgins become barren!
But then a story comes to mind; the story of Isaac in Genesis chapter 26.
READ Genesis 26: 1-3, 12-14
“There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” (Genesis 26: 1-3)
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous;for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants.
So the Philistines envied him.” (Genesis 26: 12-14)
Isaac was dwelling in the land promised to his father Abraham; but then there was a famine in the land. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines. However, the Lord appeared to him and told him to live in the land of the Philistines; and not go down to Egypt.
The verses 12 and 13 say,
“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous!”
This is what the Matthew Henry Concise Commentary says about this passage:
“Isaac had been trained up in a believing dependence upon the Divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; and now that there is a famine in the land, Isaac still cleaves to the covenant.
The real worth of God’s promises cannot be lessened to a believer by any cross providences that may befall him.
If God engage to be with us, and we are where he would have us to be, nothing but our own unbelief and distrust can prevent our comfort.”
This is the answer to my own confusion:
On our own we cannot predict God! At best, we can only second-guess Him. But we can engage God to be with us, be where He would have us to be, and trust Him.
Then even when there is famine, we can still be assured of His harvest.
MEMORY VERSE
“Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you.” (Genesis 26:3)
QUESTIONS
- Have you been struggling to second-guess God, by trying to depend on human wisdom?
- We can sow; but do you know that He is the only one who can give a sure harvest?
PRAYER TIP
Father of the harvest, please help us to trust You.
Written by:
BENNY MALM
For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL
CREDIT
- The Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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