Praying for Agriculture

On June 10, there was a “sign in the heavens.” The moon passed directly between the earth and the sun. At one point, the moon blacked out most of the sun, leaving just a halo of sunlight around the moon. They call it “the ring of fire.”

In times past, people might have been terrified. They might have been confused. Where the sun and moon fighting a battle? Was there war in the heavens? Did this predict war on earth? Did it point to natural disaster?

The magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers of Egypt and Babylon might have had a different take on a solar eclipse. Jeremiah was called to preach God’s word during the years of struggle when Jerusalem and Judah was caught between the warring empires of Assyria, Eygpt, and Babylon.

As Canadians, we are aware of how living close to a nation with powerful culture and powerful military has an affect our our culture. It was no different in Judah in Jeremiah’s day. The culture and assumptions of these super-powers affected the people of Judah. But God warns against it:

Jeremiah 10:2–3 (NIV)

This is what the Lord says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens,

though the nations are terrified by them.

For the practices of the peoples are worthless;

they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

In a wonderfully down-to-earth, matter-of-fact sort of way, Jeremiah dismantles the mystique and power of the gods of the surrounding nations. It would be humorous if it wasn’t so serious. “You realize that the nations are bowing before a nicely dressed, gold-plated piece of wood, don’t you?” It’s like a designer scarecrow; all the rich and powerful displayed them prominantly in those days.

At first, it’s a little hard for us to relate to Jeremiah’s message. After all, I suspect nobody listening to this sermon has been tempted to carve an idol of wood, plate it in gold or silver, dress it fashionably and then bow down and pray to it. Maybe you’re wondering if it’s worthwhile to read Jeremiah’s prophecy against idolatry. We’re far too advanced, way more sophisticated, than ignorant pagans who pray in front of statues. But before you change the channel or look for a sermon to watch that is more relevant, let’s test that.

What is idolatry?

Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in the Word (HC Q&A 96).

That might also feel a little abstract. Have you ever said: “If I had everything would go better.”

If I had:

a new truck,

a close friend or spouse,

a slim body,

a bigger TV,

a child

a better internet connection

. . . everything would be better.

Advertising companies make these suggestions all the time, suggesting that drinking their beer, driving their car, or eating their cereal will make our lives better.

It’s one of the issues in agriculture too. If I updated the new milking parlour for a couple of milking robots, everything would be better. Or redesigned the barn, installed a new feeding system, new tractor, bigger equipment, or more land averything would be better. We are tempted to think that all our problems are solved by installing irrigation or upgrading our equipment.

I’m not taking a shot at people who are reconfiguring their barns or investing in state-of-the-art technology. At times it is wise to make these types of investments.

Here’s what I am saying: don’t trust in your technology or technique in place of the true God. That’s true whether you are farming or buying a robot vaccuum cleaner or a new car. Don’t trust ANYTHING in place of the true God.

From our perspective, we get what God is saying to the people of Judah through Jeremiah the prophet. It’s obvious to us that a wooden idol, covered in hammered silver and dressed in purple, isn’t going to make the crops grow, no matter how much you bow before it. We don’t expect the recent solar eclipse to have any effect on the growing season or on our sheep, chickens, or ginseng. These days we are tempted to think that success in agriculture or industry or business depends on having the latest and greatest equipment.

Good equipment might improve productivity or optimize fertility but not even the best equipment can make seeds germinate and grow. There’s still something mysterious and awesome about birds hatching and livestock being born. Fertility and growth is a gift from God, the maker of heaven and earth.

That’s what Jeremiah reminds his audience in 600 BC and his audience in 2021 AD. He reminds us that there is only one God who founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

vs 11 is interesting because it is written in a different language. You know this is a translation, right? Most of Jer. 10 was orgininally written in Hebrew. Not vs. 11; it was written in Aramaic. There’s different theories about why.

The different language draws attention.

Jeremiah 10:11 NIV

“Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’ ”

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? The gods carved from wood, covered in precious metal, and dressed in fine clothes did not make the heavens and the earth.

The scientists of today have explored God’s creation as well. We’ve learned to harness many sources of energy, to optimize many natural processes, and even do incredible surgical procedures: heart transplants and hip replacements. We marvel at the amazing way human bodies work, how plants grow, and how our understanding of geometry, chemicals, and biology lets us do amazing things.

But our best creative efforts depend on the tools and materials that we make from the world around us. No human has ever said, “let there be . . .” and created something without starting materials. Jeremiah’s words remind us of our place in creation:

Jeremiah 10:12–13 (NIV)

But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom

and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.

He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

Yet there’s something in us that wants to declare independance from God. We want to be self sufficient. Although God invites us to ask for what we need and depend on him to provide our heart’s desire, there is something rebellious in us that turns aside. We face a relentless struggle to trust other things, forces, or people in place of God for success, happiness, and productivity.

We might be too advanced to bow before a gold-plated statue but I suspect idolatry - trusting something or someone in place of, or alongside of, God is still an issue.

As a kid, I always thought it was odd that the 10 Commandments describe God as a jealous God. I was taught that jealousy, like envy, was a bad thing. I shouldn’t be jealous when my sister won an all-expense trip to Florida for example. Yet you can read it in

Deuteronomy 5:8–10 (NIV)

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

What does that mean?

God is fiercely protective of his role as our Heavenly Father. As the Creator of the world, we should talk to him when we hope for rain or sunshine or heat or health or productivity. God is jealous when we trust our technology to provide something that actually comes from him. God is understandably angered when we turn from him and look for help or success or happiness from elsewhere.

The consequences are dreadful, especially when you think long-term. Turning away from God, ultimately makes the gap between God and people bigger and bigger. It cuts us off from the source of life and joy. It leads to an eternity apart from God.

But God is also compassionate on his creatures. He loves his world deeply. He has a plan to rescue us from idolatry and the consequences of looking for happiness from any other source. God himself has entered his creation to call us to depend on God for every good thing. Jesus came into creation: completely human, he lived a life of unwavering dependence on his heavenly Father. Completely God, he could endure the ultimate consequences of human idolatry.

Jesus took the punishment for sin and idolatry by dying on the cross. His trust in his Heavenly Father proved successful when God raised Jesus from the grave 3 days later, just as he promised he would. That death and victory make it possible for you to be forgiven for idolatry past and present. God the Holy Spirit gives you true faith in God - a faith like Jesus’ faith in his Father. You’re invited to enjoy an eternity of life, depending on God to provide for all your needs. Able to celebrate God’s loving care whether you’re giving thanks for a simple bowl of oatmeal or for a lavish 7-course dinner.

In Jeremiah’s day, the prophet spoke of the distinction between Creator and creation. The Creator made the earth by his power and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. That means, trees, gold and silver, and the plants and animals that produce thread for cloth are all part of God’s creation. Even the skills of the craftsman and goldsmith are gifts from the LORD.

Sometimes our vision gets foggy. We’re not able to connect the amazing technology in our cars, farm equipment, and houses back to the God of all creation. God’s word invites us to pause and recognize that God created the world. God keeps the planet spinning. God created the signs and wonders in the heavens like shooting stars, blood moons, and solar eclipses.

If we have needs - God, our heavenly Father knows what we need and is delighted when we come to him and ask him. According to his Fatherly wisdom and care, he will hold us close, delighting us with his loving care and providing us with precisely what we need as his dearly loved children.

And you know what’s amazing? He often gives us more than we need so that we have enough to share with others.