Leviticus 26:4b ~ Yield ~ Let Go!

Bedouin Tent in the Desert~Painted circa 1884

Welcome, sojourners in the way.  Come in, out of the wind and cold, rest your weary feet, warm yourselves at our fire and sup with us, as we partake of this morning's measure of manna.  I have been working on a sign, to put outside of our tent.  GOD gave the inspiration during our last visit, "Triple S" ... representing Stop, Sit and Sup.  Do you like it?


We last shared Leviticus 26:4a. Click here: to review.  GOD promises to reciprocate, based on our choice (Leviticus 26:3-4): "If you walk in My statutes, keep My commandments and do them, then I will give you rain in due season ..."  He set the table for us, presented us with the first course of of His blessings ... and now, the second course is about to be served:


THE SECOND OF GOD'S CONDITIONAL BLESSINGS:


Leviticus 26:4b ~  "and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."

Oh, how I love this promise!  The land and the trees hold on to their fruit and increase and, when it is due season, they let go of it.  This yielding is greatly due to the seasonable showers of rain that God alone can give; He waters and softens the land.  The same holds true for you and me!  If we abide in the Vine, we also will grow fruit and experience increase.  The LORD will send His rain, in season, moisten our ground ... and ... when the HE says it is time, we are to yield.

In order to yield, one must first relax and become less rigid; as does the earth when it gives under our feet.  The land, the trees and we must become soft and giving.


The land holds tight to her roots; the plants and trees hold tight to their fruit ... until ... GOD sends His blessing and commands them to let go.  Isn't it wild, that even nature has to be prepared, in order to let go??

Watercolor from: Andrew Sinclair Gallery

land 776:  the earth (at large, or partitively a land) -- common, country, earth, field, ground, land, nations, way, + wilderness, world.


Double wow:  This promise not only applies to nature literally, to us figuratively; but also to the nations of the world!  THAT, my friends, is a whole study in itself!


If only we would recognize and obey the laws of God. *sigh*  Sadly, it has become increasingly obvious that the world will not yield, until Jesus comes back to rule and reign!  Then every knee will bow and every nation shall yield!  I pray that you and I do not wait so long to yield the will of the Almighty God.

yield 5414: give forth, give over, give up, deliver, hand over, move, to recede.


In order to yield, we must recede, back off, hand over the increase ... wow!  Again, the work of our Loving Father!  He blesses us, He moves us, it is NOT a work of our own.  We cannot do it ... it requires the hand of God ... whether we recognize or credit Him, or not.  There was no river in Israel, as in Egypt; it was obvious that God was irrigating the land.

Wheat Field in Rain ~ Vincent Van Gogh 1889

Wesley's Notes:  "Rain - Therefore God placed them not in a land where there were such rivers as the Nile, to water it and make it fruitful, but in a land which depended wholly upon the rain of heaven, the key whereof God kept in His own hand, that so He might the more effectually oblige them to obedience, in which their happiness consisted."


Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: "The dependence which the fruitfulness of the earth beneath has upon the influences of heaven above is a sensible intimation to us that every good and perfect gift must be expected from above, from the Father of lights."


We serve such an awesome GOD!  He ALWAYS has a plan for our best good!!  He is SO faithful and loves us SO much!

increase 2981: produce of the soil, a crop or (figuratively) wealth -- fruit. To yield or furnish appropriate offspring, crops, effects, consequences, or results: Webster's dictionary.


fruit 6529:  literal or figurative: bough, first-fruit, reward. Seed vessel(s): Webster's dictionary.


So, in conclusion: when we depend fully on God and obey His laws, He will shower us with His blessings.  His Living Water softens/moistens the soil of our hearts, so that we may give up/let go of (yield) the fruit that He has produced in and through us.  Our yielding results in the bringing forth of much increase and more fruit (which bears more seed) for His Kingdom!  WOW!


What a delicious promise this is ... a gift that literally keeps on giving.  The yielding process is key, the LORD waters and softens, but we must still back up, let go of, yield everything He has grown in us in order for the increase to come.  We must recognize and make this choice.  When we feel the Master's pull ... we must let go!  This gives new perspective to the saying, "Let go.  Let God."

However, there are several factors that can make yielding difficult.  One is unwillingness to step back, recede, release our hold ... and let God do what He needs to do.  It is uncomfortable to give up our "natural" tendency to hold onto and/or control a situation or thing ... fear of the unknown/unfamiliar can actually make us tighten our grip.


Immaturity/self-centeredness, such as witnessed during a kindergarten playtime, can keep us from handing over our fruit.  We all still have a bit of a "Mine!" tendency.  Are we really trusting God???  Gaccckkk!  I am sure there are many more things that tighten our fists  ... including the obvious sin, rebellion, the blatant refusal to submit.  Surely, we have all experienced someone's unwillingness to yield, at a four way stop ... hopefully not our own!  ;D

It is possible for us to allow our hearts to get so hard, that GOD's blessings run right off and cannot sink in.  When this happens, our "soil" becomes like cement and will have a death grip on whatever was planted there.  Not only can it not nourish us (or anyone else), it will be almost impossible to let go of (or pull up) anything and release it from that hard barren ground.  This also includes the weeds that have taken root there.  The plant dies, no longer produces fruit, and in turn, no longer nourishes the soil.  Lose lose lose situation.

For barren land to be made productive again, it must be broken and dug into, by hoe, disc, plow or tractor.  The soil must be furrowed into, turned over, amended with fertilizers; that hurts ... and ... it stinks!  Then, the cycle begins again ... we must open up to receive God's rains, even into our deep broken places ... or ... we remain a hard, dry and barren wilderness. *shudder*  God forbid.


So, we are back to where we started, the LORD our GOD's conditions for blessings ... walk, keep, and do!  And back to this morning's manna: yield!  Whew!  Simple ... yet ... rich!

Our Father God sent His Son, Jesus to us, as the perfect example for us to follow.  Jesus explains very clearly in John 10:10-11 ~ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."  Jesus obediently and willingly yielded to the Father's will, and did everything He was sent here to do, without question ... up to, and including, enduring the Cross.  Then, ultimately: "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost." ~ Matthew 27:50  See below:

αφηκεν  verb - aorist active indicative - third person singular 
aphiemi  af-ee'-ay-mee:  an intensive form of eimi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow) -- cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.


Oh, my friends, this is just the "tip of the iceberg," the very beginning of the blessings that the LORD has in store for us, if we just do what He says!


I pray that our fellowship with God's Word has been sweet for you.  I am always blessed to overflowing when we meet here.  I am sure that our Lord has given each one of you, a treasure to add to our "meal" ... please, leave a comment and share with us.  I sincerely welcome your feedback.


*NEW*: I have added a GoogleTranslator gadget, to the upper right of my posts OR you can Click Here.


Until we meet again, may God bless you, 우리가 다시 만날 때까지, 신의 가호가 있기를 수 있습니다. (Korean)

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

 ~Shalom~

Leviticus 26:4a ~ Then ... Rain in Due Season ~ Reciprocity: Part Three

Good Morning, fellow seekers of GOD!  During this "holiday" season, the highways are crowded and rushed.  Fret not, there is always plenty of room in the narrow way!  Here we will find peace and joy ... in all seasons!  Especially during these busy days, we relish the time that we take to stop, sit and sup with our LORD.  Oh, I like that!  Triple S ~ Stop Sit Sup.  Don't you just love how the Lord shows you stuff, while your are in His Presence??  Bless His heart!

You are welcome to taste this wonderful manna, His Living Word with us.  The LORD has such a beautiful feast prepared for those that love Him!
 
At our last meal, we shared Leviticus 26:3 click here: to review.  Basically, our Father laid the foundation for His principle of reciprocity (responding to a positive action with another positive action).  He told us, exactly, what positive actions He wants us to take.  He gave us three action words: walk, keep and do ... which led to some serious introspection!

Now, that we have had time to digest the richness of Leviticus 26:3; we are ready to sample the blessings that the LORD our God is about to spread before us.  He has set the table with His conditions.  Now, based upon our freewill choice to meet those conditions ... GOD is going to tell us, specifically, how He will respond!  God's principle of reciprocity in action!  Wow, oh wow!  What a privilege it is, to be a child of the Almighty GOD!

Please, come in, as we stop, sit and sup (Triple S) on this Morning's Measure of Manna (Triple M).  Too many acronyms ... yes?  Ahhh ... but good things do come in threes!  *smile*

IF you walk in My statutes, keep My commandments and do them (Leviticus 26:3) ...

THE FIRST OF GOD'S CONDITIONAL BLESSINGS:

LEVITICUS 26:4a ~ "Then I will give you rain in due season ... "
 

"Then I will give you rain in due season. " 

God never fails to keep His promises!  The Almighty God that we serve cannot lie!  See: Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:18(b).  Thankfully, God is not like me (whew!), or you, or any other being.  We have good intentions; yet we often fail to follow through with our promises. (ugh)

When  The LORD says, "I will" ... we can count on it ... He will!  Nothing in this life, is as sure as that!  Sidenote: Apologetics Press has an in depth and reassuring expository on this subject:  here.

God, our Creator, gives to us ... not because we deserve it, nor because we earn it (we absolutely cannot) ... but, simply  because He loves us SO much!  He manifests His love for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit, through nature, and even through you and I.  It is so humbling to really think about how personal His love is towards us .... humbling and quite overwhelming.

Just as there are conditions from which flowers grow, so there are conditions from which God's blessings flow!  We, ourselves, cannot make either of these things happen.  We can only follow the instructions we are given, do the best we can, and trust God for the outcome.

Once the conditions are right ... woohoo ... look out for blessings!!

The LORD, in His infinite wisdom, promises to give us rain ... in His appointed time.  Only God knows that time.  We "sheep" (baaa) tend to expect that He should give us the "rain" we ask for, when we ask for it.  Sometimes, it works out that way ... but many times it does not.  We do not and can not know God's ultimate plan.  His ways are not our ways ... His thoughts are SO far above ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Hallelujah! 

The LORD is our GOD!  He created us, He alone, knows what is best for us ... and how to accomplish it!  He says that He will send the rain, when His conditions are met!  That settles it.

Oh, my fellow sheep, we are in the hand of our Shepherd (Psalm 95:7)  He wants us to truly and fully trust Him ... at all times!  I believe that those times when we don't "see" the rain or the provision ... are the times when our trust is being tested.  Yikes, I am already having "test anxiety," just thinking about it.  I SO desire to trust Him completely.  I want to lean fully, with all my weight, on You, Lord; I know You will never fail me.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven ...  He hath made every thing beautiful in His time ..."  Ecclesiastes 3:1 and Ecclesiastes 3:11

• season: an appointed time, appointed occasion, appropriate time
• time: after, always, certain, continually, evening, long, due season, so long as

I think of how beautiful a new life is, when it is born in due season.  Not as much, when it is not.

In Due Season

Before Due Season

Fruit and vegetables are never as beautiful, yummy and nutritious, as when they are "in season."  Fire is magnificent when it warms, cooks and cleanses ... as purposed.  Even death can be beautiful  at its appointed time.

The sun is so warm and fun, in the Summer ... the winds carry seeds of new life, in the Spring.  Dying and falling leaves are beautiful, in the Autumn ... as is snow in the Winter.

But outside of GOD;s seasons, each of these things can be not beautiful, at all ... even tragic and terrifying.  Premature births, senselessly caused death, drought, rain out of season, floods, tsunamis, blizzards, hurricanes, tidal waves, tornadoes, premature frost on blossoms, a seed unearthed before its time, fire out of control ... and the list goes on endlessly.

When those showers do come, in His appointed time, (not ours) we know it in our "knower" ... we feel it in the core of our being ... they are obviously a gift of God!  Gratitude and love for our Maker gushes out, like a fountain, as we point to the Source of our blessing and provision.  His glory is obvious over all the circumstances ... many see, take note, and look toward God.  In God's eyes it is the perfect time, place and purpose.

We need to learn to see as our Father sees ... when the rain hasn't  come ... yet.  Will I trust Him and act on my belief that His provision IS on the way???  I pray so.

Boy, I surely needed this lesson!  It is so easy to get discouraged and disgruntled, when we don't "see" our rain coming.  *Gasp,* I believe that I actually get impatient with God! 

Oh Lord, please forgive me.  Help us all to follow Your instructions for the conditions that You have laid before us.  Your time and Your way is always perfect, we do trust You.  LORD GOD of heaven and earth, shut out the voices of doubt that whisper to us.  Let us hear only Your voice.  Draw us into Your Word; equip us with the Truth, to come against the lies that we are bombarded with.  Thank You, Lord, amen. 

My dear sisters and brothers, as we part company today... and we each go about learning how to walk in GODs statutes, how to keep His commandments, and how to do them ... let us encourage one another.  We all need loving reminders, that the rain is coming ... especially during difficult times!

The rain IS coming!

The Lord's mercies are fresh every morning, but some days we just don't feel it, our the body and/or mind is weak/clouded/confused and vulnerable to doubt.  Let us recognize these signs and help each other to re-focus on God's promises.  Let us praise Him and thank Him for His grace, mercy and faithfulness ... no matter what we see or do not see!  This is the kind of faith that delights our LORD! 

This measure of manna has been the "first course" of blessings that our awesome LORD has promised to us from Leviticus 26.  Next visit, Lord willing, we will finish Verse 4.  Definitely not "fast food" ... this manna is to be savored ... bite by bite.

Until we meet again, may God bless you, Sampai kita bertemu lagi, semoga God berkati Anda (Indonesian)

I am blessed every day

with some new revelation of God's Word.

I will be sharing my measure of manna

with all who come to my "tent."

Please, let me know if you have been blessed

by the way it was prepared for you this day.

 ~Shalom~