By: Obed Pineda
There is no question that agriculture is a very important part of life. It is so valuable, in fact, that it provides for every one of man’s essential needs, ranging from food to shelter. The reality is that vegetation is not solely important, but rather necessary, for without it mankind cannot exist. Thus, once more the omniscience and omnibenevolence of the Almighty toward His creation is manifested in this irrefutable fact. Because this is absolutely true, it is inadvisable to discount the link shared between the day our God chose to create all of earth’s vegetation and the significance the number three holds in Hebrew numerology as mere coincidence (Genesis 1:11-13). In fact, this sheds light on why the Bible contains a plethora of spiritual lessons explained through the visual aid of agriculture. Perhaps, the most famous teaching of all using the illustration of a farmer comes from the Master Himself when He spoke, “Behold, a sower went out to sow” (Matthew 13:1-9). In this parable, the Lord illustrates the hearts of men as fields being sown by the sower (Matthew 13:18-23). The purpose of His parable is to demonstrate four different examples of how man receives the Word of God. It must be noted that three of the four fields are unfruitful and only one is represented by the Lord as “good ground [that] yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:8, emphasis and addition mine). Thus, Christ reiterates His warning that “not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21, emphasis added). Observe the immaculate consistency of the Lord’s teachings between both lessons, revealing what is an acceptable fruit in the eyes of God. It is imperative to hold in our mind’s eye that fertile soil is described by the Master as “he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:23b, emphasis added). Verily, it is undeniable that in both lessons obedience to the Word of God is being emphasized by the Savior as more important than faith alone, without works. In other words, true faith will produce obedience for the inspired James makes the argument, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:17-18, emphasis added). Let us also recall that the Lord cautions His disciples about false teachers, teaching us that we “will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16-20, emphasis added). This marvelous lesson, displayed yet again through the marvel that is agriculture, contains several spiritual lessons that must be applied in a Christian’s daily walk. However, the one this author wants to focus on in this composition is the same one taught to Abram after he returned from rescuing Lot. A lesson further elaborated by the inspired James as he encouraged his beloved brethren, “be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and the latter rain” (James 5:7, emphasis added). Remember that Christ taught that a good tree is identified by the good fruit it bears. This is a valuable detail that is detrimental to overlook. The reason is that Jesus is explaining that His Father is not solely interested in the quantity of fruit a tree bears; He is more focused on the quality of fruit a tree bears. Hence the reason why the Lord reveals in His sermon that the pleas of “have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name” is insufficient, since all of these actions (i.e. “fruits”) were done by “you who practiced lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22-23, emphasis added). Although their branches did have fruits, the fruit was tainted by the poison of disobedience and rebelliousness. Thus, the wisdom of James’ instruction displayed by the farmer is learning to wait on God. In a previous article, we learned how Abram’s reluctance to consult and wait for God’s instruction, led him to a series of shameful consequences that ultimately resulted in the separation between him and Lot (Genesis 12:10-13:17). Yet, we have been witnessing through Holy Writ how Abraham’s faith has been growing with every experience (good or bad) that he has been through. The most recent one being his magnanimity, displayed in his decision to rescue his nephew from the clutches of an evil king; a fruit resulting from Lot’s unrighteous actions (Genesis 14:1-17). Curiously, despite having lived through that horrific experience, Scripture reveals that Lot chooses to remain at Sodom. This decision weighed heavy on Abram’s mind since we read that “after these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’ But Abram said, ‘Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus’” (Genesis 15:1-2, emphasis added)? It is a glorious sight to behold the Lord God’s care for His beloved children. The Bible reveals that Abram was distraught when he returned from emancipating his nephew by showing us God’s words of encouragement to him. Jehovah was reassuring his friend that He was still at his side, even though Lot was not. We are also able to see that Abram was still trying to piece together how the Lord was going to provide him with an heir since he had wrongly surmised that Lot would fulfill this role. Thus, Holy Writ teaches us in the example of the future father of faith the value to “not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today…the Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13, 14 emphasis added). It is indisputable that this magnificent instruction uttered by Moses when the people of Israel believed to have been trapped by Pharaoh, is the same one being expounded by the quill of James in his example of the farmer’s patience. It is the same lesson that was being given to Abram by the Lord as he pondered of how the promise would unfold. Astonishingly, it is the doctrine explained by the Lord in the smallest of all the seeds. To be continued…