A Different And Thrilling Angle

At the conclusion of yesterday’s offering, we were told that we would be looking at harvest from a completely different angle. We were also told that it would be interesting and arresting. 

What we are viewing, shows and tells all about God’s wisdom, words, will and way for His people, when they enter into the land which He has given to them. They are to be planters, for He has provided them with luscious, planting soil. Just as Jesus, our Lord and Master, spoke unendingly about seed, sowing, planting, reaping, and harvests, so too with God, His Heavenly Father. Planting and reaping are important to God. Increase is what He looks for, in our planting seeds, whether in the soil of the earth or the soil of people’s hearts.

However, in this week, the emphasis is not on planting, growing and reaping. It’s all about eating or feasting on what you reap. Now isn’t this different from what you expected? O yes, this sets up to be different and arresting.

Here is the Bible text from which we are receiving.

When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the LORD. And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:  23 - 25

When you come into the land, signifies a move, a change, a difference from one place, one kind of living to another. Note clearly though, God expects and looks for His newly changed people to plant profusely and widely in their new living. However, God has made a ruling for His people. He hands it all down to them through Moses, His leader.

These are the instructions for all those who have planted all kinds of trees for food. We note with much interest that the people are working on the land, planting food crops. Of even more gripping interest is that God has given them success in their planting of food items. They reap a good and bountiful harvest. However, God’s instructions are that the food must not be eaten for a while. God says that the fruit, the harvest, the abundant yield is uncircumcised. The warning is plain. Do not eat the fruit.

So you have toiled in your fields and have been given produce in no small measure. If it is God who gives the harvest, then we know that the harvest is good, for God gives us good. Yet, God says that you are forbidden to eat any of the fruit of your trees. The fruit are described as uncircumcised or unclean. Will you ever be able to make the food clean? Will you ever be able to eat food from the labour of your hands? Yes, and God Himself says so, as He gives procedure for His people to follow. He gives it in terms of three stages of time. There is to be a Waiting Time, a Worshipping Time and a Welcoming Time.

We will begin to explore these, tomorrow.