George Washington, America’s first president, said of farming: “Agriculture is the most healthy, the most useful, and the most noble employment of man.” Today’s reading is an Old Testament poetic parable about the kingdom of God and the accomplishment of His plans. In Isaiah 28, God is pictured as a farmer. When farmers do their tasks, they don’t do them mindlessly or repeat them continually for no reason (vv. 24–25). For example, a farmer finishes plowing, then moves on to sowing seeds. Similarly, farmers deal with different types of seeds in the right ways (vv. 27–28). Cumin and caraway seeds are small and delicate and must be threshed differently than other kinds.
The spiritual lesson here is that God knows and does everything in the right way at the right time (v. 29). His plans and actions are “wonderful” and “magnificent.” If farmers know the right way to do their work—by paying attention to God’s created order, we infer from verse 26—then surely we can trust God to know the right way to do His work. Furthermore, if farmers know to vary their processes according to the type of seed and crop, understanding that one size doesn’t fit all, then surely we can trust God to know and do the right thing in the right way at the right time. This includes His warnings earlier in this chapter to the leaders of Ephraim and Judah.
The picture of cumin and caraway seeds being threshed instead of crushed implies that God might judge or punish His people, but He won’t destroy them (v. 27). His faithful covenant love can be trusted, even when His people are doing wrong. The title “LORD Almighty” is a bit generic (v. 29). Other translations render this “Lord of hosts” or “Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” The focus is on His sovereign and mighty power.
Go Deeper
Where have you seen God “threshing the seeds” in your life? In what ways do you need to strengthen your faith that He is the wise Farmer cultivating your life?
Pray with Us
Lord of hosts, we praise You, for we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14). Thank You for creating each one of us as a unique individual.
All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.Isaiah 28:29
