If you have garden space in your yard, dig your spade into the soil, turn it over, smooth it out and plant some seeds. This starts the wonderful process of new plant life arranged by the Lord God when He created the world. Soon, when rain and sunshine have done their part, new plants will appear. With your care, or even if left to themselves, they will grow rapidly and be able to reproduce themselves many times over with their seeds. As far as earthly needs are concerned, this means of obtaining good from the ground is one of God’s richest blessings, just as the above verse tells us.
The soil around us is really a miracle. It is teeming with life 24 hours a day, including billions of invisible microbes (bacteria, fungi, etc.) which supply essential elements as well as producing nutrition on which plants depend.
There are visible helpers as well, though seldom seen because they work underground. Earthworms are one of the most important, munching their way through the ground, loosening and fertilizing it by pulling leaves and grass down into the soil and depositing mineral-rich castings on the surface in exchange. Moles and even ants do much the same, as well as many other insects. The roots of grass, plants and trees all play their part too. Everything has been arranged by the Creator to work together to replenish the richness put into the soil when He created it.
A very important need of soil is nitrogen, which is made available to plants by the activities of some of the microbes. Rain and lightning are also very important contributors of valuable nitrogen, carrying it right into the soil where it can be used. Aren’t the ways of the Creator wonderful?
We can understand that farmers are pressured to get more and better crops out of their fields and are unable to give the land needed times of rest. However, certain crops and fertilizers replace much of the important properties. But the Lord well knew land should not be overworked, and He instructed the children of Israel that every seventh year the land should have a “year of rest” so that its important qualities could be restored.
And on the subject of crops, the Bible talks about another kind of sowing to which we should pay careful attention. It says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)). This refers to our way of life that is always seen by God. If we are involved in things that are good, they will return to us happiness, but if we are involved in things that are wrong, they will return to us sorrow. This is something very important to think about.
AUGUST 24, 1997
ML-08/24/1997