Protection II

Isaiah 28:23 -29
(NIV)

Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing the soil? When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cummin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field? His God instructs him and teaches him the right way. Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over cummin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a stick. Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. Though he drives the wheels of his threshing cart over it, his horses do not grind it. All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom.

Isaiah 28:23 -29
(God's Word)

Open your ears, and listen to me!
Pay attention, and hear me!
Does a farmer go on plowing every day so he can plant?
Does he continue to break up the soil and make furrows in the ground? When he has smoothed its surface,
doesn't he scatter black cumin seed and plant cumin?
Doesn't he plant wild wheat in rows?
Doesn't he put barley in its own area and winter wheat at its borders?

God will guide him in judgment, and his God will teach him.
Black cumin isn't threshed with a sledge, and wagon wheels aren't rolled over cumin. Black cumin is beaten with a rod and cumin with a stick. Grain is ground into flour, but the grinding eventually stops.
It will be threshed. The wheels of his cart will roll over it, but his horses won't crush it.

All of this has come from the Lord of Armies.
His counsel is wonderful, and his wisdom is great.

This scripture illustrates the divine plan that Father has for each one of us. He has selected us and 'planted' us in the very best place for us to grow to full maturity in Him. He has provided protection and instructed us in the best way to grow and produce good fruit.

What would happen to the wheat if it decided that it was not happy in the field? What if it could not get along with the other seedlings and moved itself outside of the field? It had rested on smooth, prepared ground - but now it sits upon rocky soil and growth becomes an effort. Its roots are met with opposition every inch of the way and the wheat must force - consuming much of its strength - just to gain a small bit of ground. Outside of the field the wheat is subject to the harsh winds and all the debris they carry. In the field the wheat was protected within the border of 'winter wheat' - which took the brunt of the wind and filtered much of the debris. Outside of the field the wheat is subjected to all of the 'traffic' of the area it has chosen to place itself. It may be trampled, broken or even pulled out of the ground. It has no protection, it is on its own! Where are you? Are you planted in the field that the Father has prepared for you? Sometimes our 'field' looks so wrong. We have so much trouble with that 'winter wheat'! It can be so difficult to get along with at times. But that is part of it strength and why it is a protector. The dill and the cumin can seem to be a bother - taking up space and using resources. If I am dill my purpose may be different - but if it were not important my Father would not have planted me. If I am cumin I too am different - but also have an important purpose. We are each important to the Father for He took the time to prepare the field for us and to plant us in it. He has watered us and fed us with His Word - He has encouraged us and instructed us by His Holy Spirit. He created each of us for a purpose and has given us the ability to just what He planned for us. It is our choice - will be be contented in the field? Will we listen and grow strong? - or - Will we try to live our own way, reasoning things in our minds and following our own agenda? How do we know if we are safely in the field or on the outskirts?

How much peace do I have?