Isaiah 28:24,29 “Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? . . This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.”
I was in South Dakota a while back, and I had a very interesting conversation with a local farmer I know. He told me of all the things a tractor could do these days. It is unbelievable! They now have GPS devices on tractors that tell elevation, soil condition, fertilizer recommendations, and much more! This is definitely a far cry from the plows farmers used just a few years ago.
But ultimately, no matter how “smart” a farmer’s equipment is, the farmer is still dependent upon God to give life to his crops. God is the Source of all things, and He is the One who sustains life. We could say that God is the ultimate Farmer. He is the ultimate Farmer in a literal sense-cultivating and sustaining the plants that give us food. But He is also a Cultivator of growth in a spiritual sense.
Here in Isaiah 28, Isaiah asks some rhetorical questions: “Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cumin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?” (verses 24-25) The answer to all of these questions is, YES!
Just like an earthly farmer, the first thing that God does is break up fallow ground. As we see in the parable of the soil (Mark 4), the ground represents the condition of the hearts of those hearing the Word of God. God is the One who plows in hearts to make them ready to receive the Word of God in a way where it will take root and grow.
Next, God is the Source of the seed that is planted in hearts. That seed, we know, is the Word of God. In I Corinthians 3:6 we see the comparison again made to farming. Paul says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” Just like an earthly farmer-knowingly or unknowingly-is partnering with God, so we must partner with God to plant and water the seed in people’s hearts. But He ultimately gives the increase!
God plows, plants, and-lastly-He cultivates. The next few verses in Isaiah 28 teach this fact: different types of plants take different processes of cultivation. God always cultivates in hearts according to the need, whether it is chastisement, encouragement, or warning. If you are a parent of multiple children, you know that there are some matters that are the same for each child, but since each child is different, you must deal with each child differently in discipline. One child just needs a stern word, while another needs a two-by-four to get through to him! God cultivates hearts in the same way-according to the need.
How wonderful it is to know that God is constantly cultivating and working in hearts in ways we cannot see. And we are in partnership with Him! We must be careful to always proclaim God’s Word and protect the preaching of God’s Word, but also keeping in mind that God gives the increase. God is the ultimate Cultivator-He can do in hearts what we cannot!
Prayer Requests:
1. Revival services tonight in Terre Haute, IN; Taylors, SC; and Williamsport, PA
2. Recruiting of college summer staff today