If you have garden space in your yard, dig your spade into the soil, turn it up, smooth it out and plant some seeds. In doing this you will start the wonderful process of new 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 (but otherwise 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 securing food out of the ground is one of God’s richest blessings, just as the above verse tells us.
The soil around us is indeed a miracle. It is full of life 24 hours a day, including billions of invisible microbes (bacteria, fungi, etc.) which give essential elements as well as producing nutrition on which plants depend.
There are visible helpers as well, though seldom seen because they work underground. Worms are one of the most important, munching their way through the ground, loosening and fertilizing it by pulling leaves and grass down and depositing mineral-rich “castings” on the surface in exchange. Moles and even ants do much the same, as do many insects. 1 he 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 most 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 cannot fairly criticize farmers who are pressed to get more and more crops out of a piece of ground and are unable to give the land needed times of rest. But the result is that it loses important properties and can then only produce enough food if fertilizers and chemicals are added. But the Lord well knew land should not be overworked and instructed His people of old that every seventh year they should give it a “year of rest” so that its important qualities could be restored.
And on the subject of crops, the Bible speaks, of another kind of sowing to which careful attention should be given. It tells us “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, and that whether we engage in bad things or good things, we will find them returning either to our sorrow or our happiness. This is important. Think about it.
ML-03/16/1986