The Old Testament is always a little harder for me to comprehend. I am not sure if it is the words used or the harsher tone that seems to fill its pages. But it certainly appears there is more fear and wrath in the Old Testament and love and forgiveness in the New. As a result, I prefer the New, but strive to understand the Old. Today the Bible opened up in Isaiah:
Give ear and hear my voice, pay attention and hear my word:
Is the plowman forever plowing in order to sow, always loosening and harrowing the field? When he has leveled the surface, does he not scatter caraway and sow cumin, Put in wheat and barley, with spelt as its border? His God has taught him this rule, he has instructed him. For caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor does a cartwheel roll over cumin. But caraway is beaten out with a staff, and cumin with a rod. Grain is crushed for bread, but not forever; though he thresh it thoroughly, and drive his cartwheel and horses over it, he does not pulverize it. This too comes from the LORD of hosts; wonderful is his counsel and great his wisdom.
Isaiah 28:23-29
I am not a farmer. And not a scholar of the Old Testament. I am not positive what this is supposed to mean, but here is what it is saying to me tonight. I assume God is the plowman. He has first leveled the surface — we are all on equal footing in His eyes. We all have an equal opportunity to grow. But we are all different. We all have different needs and different paths (hopefully paths to God). And the path is not easy. We may be threshed, or beaten or rolled over with a cart, but we are not destroyed. We are being cultivated, and nurtured. It is only through these hardships that we grow to our full potential. Like the plowman, God wants us to grow.
God,
Your plan does not always make sense to me. Sometimes I feel like I have been beaten down or even rolled over by a cart. Looking back, I know this is necessary for me to grow. But I still balk at the process. Help me to recognize the bumps in the road as the opportunities that they are. Help me to help others see this too. Help us to trust that you will not allow us to be pulverized and to recognize how good your plan is. Thank you for taking care of each of us and providing us with a path designed just for us. You have provided us with fertile ground, help us to continue to grow.
Sufficient Grace 
I am so joyful in having the chance to read your post, truly. Here is the way God has became active in my life. Shown to me first was,that I needed to be one fitting his image and never thinking to do less. The next ,and most helpful office passed unto me by God was reading in excess isn’t more, and is only going to cause misinterpretation amongst yourself and those also learning. I come bearing a solution to any and all other cross roads or seemingly impossible biblical feats. (as I call them.).. Simple direction is needed firs , this will also be the mindset most effective when God may be rendering aid . Secondly and also the last bit of Godly wisdom I will share, is TRUST in God FIRST, and in all that you do especially when desiring his gifts. Trust me here, I want you to ONLY read what is said by God himself , or Jesus depicting the testament. Know truth first as God wants us to and all of the books pertaining testimony to which you also will be attested to merely all have become reflection to your own. You may think a bit skeptical of my truth but truly I share only God’s Love with you in hopes it may lead you down the narrow pathway lightened by faith established in Jesus. Shy away from God and you may miss his gifts yet never to know it, also take heed in the truth I have learned in Him as this same truth fills you too. Remember only Jesus’s words or The Father of the same Word found in Old scripture.
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Patty, I got pretty much the same message. Although the paths we are led down are not always easy and actually really difficult, they help us to grow in our relationship with God and after we make it through to the end of the path (and before we begin another!) we look back, see where we are, and then able to see the hidden beauty of the bumps, bruises and sometimes scars we acquired along the way. I’ve heard it said several times that the best things in life, are the things worth working hard and fighting for. The easy stuff is materialistic and unimportant.
This passage makes me think of people who have scars from either accidents, or sicknesses or surgeries. Some of these people wear their scars like medals because it reminds them of the hardships they had gone through, not to be depressive, but to keep them grounded and to remember what’s really important.
Another point in the scripture that caught my attention is the words “But caraway is beaten out with a staff, and cumin with a rod” The words staff and rod caught my attention – One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd…) and I think it goes well with this scripture. Verse 4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me.” Now like you, I am no farmer and being beaten with a staff and rod doesn’t sound comforting… at all. But I think in this scripture the staff and rod are the symbols of his authority and power that will protect me so that my path will be fruitful.
I get so many visuals as I read the scripture and write this comment – but it’s late and I need to get some sleep before I get up in 5 hours for work! Thank you again for posting!
Dear Lord,
Thank you for not making it easy. Thank you for making it difficult so that I appreciate all you have done for me. Thank you for your rod and staff – for they really do comfort me. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done! For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever! Amen!
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