By: Obed Pineda
One of the most challenging life lessons that mankind struggles to grasp is learning to wait. This is especially true when anticipation and uncertainty fuse with one another in a person’s heart. They are the key ingredients that Satan often mixes to produce his most potent venom; doubt. Undoubtedly, one cannot deny that this is the devil’s favorite weapon of choice, found in his vast arsenal, due to the deadly efficiency with which he wields it. It was doubt that he sowed in the mind of Eve at Eden to accomplish corrupting God’s crown of creation, and it is doubt that he still uses today to continue to tear mankind away from his Creator (Genesis 3:1-7, 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15). The Ancient Serpent knows too well that man’s curiosity can easily be manipulated into uncertainty that will eventually lead to apostasy. Man’s lack of patience becomes fertile ground for doubt and provides God’s arch-nemesis with the opportunity to destroy souls. This cruel reality is illuminated by Paul, Peter, and James for all three of them encouraged the Church not to allow Satan to use the anticipation of the Master’s return to earth against them (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12, 2nd Peter 3:1–18, and James 5:7-12). Regrettably, it is the same venom that the devil continues to spew in the world today by mockingly asking “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2nd Peter 3:4, emphasis added). Hence the wise decision of James in teaching us through the example of the farmer the value of waiting on the Lord. The same lesson that our previous treatise revealed was being taught to Abram after returning home from battle without Lot (Genesis 15:3-8). James’ selection of the farmer as the illustration of endurance becomes precious to those who explore it properly. James invites his brethren to “see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain” (James 5:7, emphasis added). It is essential to notice that James’ inspired lesson is “how the farmer waits” and not “what he reaps.” This distinction is crucial in order to arrive at the proper exegesis of this Scripture, but also to fully comprehend the process of farming. He begins his explanation by demonstrating the reliance the farmer has to have in God since he must wait for the “early and latter rain.” Any experienced farmer understands that this magnificent trade is not just about putting the seed into the earth. When James refers to the “early rain” he is illustrating that before the farmer plants his seed, he must wait for the ground to be germinated by the rains that usually fall between the months of late October and early November. If this early rain does not fall or if it scarcely falls, the seed cannot germinate and it will not produce a crop. The “latter rain” is the rain that comes after the seed has been planted into the earth, which the farmer must also wait for. Similar to the early rain, the latter rain that typically falls between April and May is essential for the grain to mature properly. Thus, if the early rain does arrive abundantly but the latter rain is insufficient, the seed will germinate but the crops it will produce will be unfruitful. Notice that the quality of the farmer’s crop depends on both the early and latter rain; something he has no control over. This vital fact is elaborated by the apostle Paul as he penned, “who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1st Corinthians 3:5-9, emphasis added). Certainly, the joint partnership between God and man is abundantly visible in the trade of the farmer! This is so because the farmer relies on the heavens to pour its rain and prepare the ground before the seed is planted, but also to nourish the seed after it has been planted, both in due time. Thus, the lesson that James is espousing in his illustration is twofold. First, he teaches his readers that we must learn to wait on God for He is in control. The Master elaborates upon this doctrine exhorting, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they…consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the over, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith” (Matthew 6:25-26, 28-30 emphasis added)? There is no question that James is emulating the Lord in manifesting God’s providential hand, with the intent of anchoring our faith in Him. However, the second part of his teaching is just as valuable. Since the first part of his lesson is to wait on God, then the second part is a bit more challenging because James is teaching us to wait for God. This is the secret of the muster seed, which the Savior compares the Kingdom of Heaven to (Matthew 13:31-32). The majority of Biblical scholars agree that of the different classes of muster seed there exists, it is most probable that the Lord was referring to the black muster seed since the birds of those regions are well known to feast on the seeds of this plant. The minute size of this seed is fascinatingly misleading since under the right circumstances it can produce herbs that grow as tall as 10 to 12 feet within months of being planted. Remember that when Abram inquired from God, “how shall I know that I will inherit it,” Jehovah commanded him to bring forth a sacrifice to Him (Genesis 15:8–10, emphasis added). Abram complied with His instructions to a tee, but “when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. Then He said to Abram” (Genesis 15:12-13a, emphasis added). It must not go unnoticed that Jehovah God made Abram wait until nightfall to answer his question. However, it is also imperative that it not be ignored that Abram waited for God’s response, and protected that which belonged to God until His arrival (Genesis 15:11). Due to his willingness to wait, his faith in God was increased immensely by Him. Truly, this was no longer the same Abram who fled to Egypt without consulting God when famine struck the land. However, we are quickly reminded the importance of holding tightly in our memory always this precious lesson. To be continued…