Daily Reading: Isaiah chapters 25 thru 28

Key Verses: Isaiah 28:23-29

According to Herbert Vander Lugt, Isaiah illustrates, "the way God deals with His children by citing three aspects of a farmer's work.  First, he declares that the plowman doesn't continue breaking the ground indefinitely, but stops when it is ready for planting (v.24).  Likewise, our trials are brought to an end as soon as they have accomplished His purposes in our lives.  Then the prophet says that the farmer sows his seed with discernment, scattering the cummin but putting the wheat in rows (vv.25, 26).  This assures us that the Lord carefully selects the discipline especially suited to our particular need.  Finally, Isaiah portrays the laborer threshing his crop.  With extreme care, he beats out the dill with a light stick, and strikes the cummin with heavier flail.  For the wheat he employs a wheel just heavy enough to avoid crushing grain (vv.27, 28).  Thus the Almighty uses the gentlest possible touch for our condition, never allowing an affliction to be greater than we can bear."

Jesus states it like this in Matthew  13:30, "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."  We ourselves determine our own judgement.  If we will listen to Him, He will put us over where the wheat and spare us the severity of His judgement.