Like the people during Isaiah’s time we do not always know
what God is up to. How could God
proclaim judgment against Judah announcing His sovereign use of a foreign
nation and then punish that very same nation that He uses? Is God inconsistent? Is He unjust?
Isaiah took the opportunity to teach the people a
theological lesson using an agricultural metaphor. We find it in Isaiah 28:23–29 (NIV)
23 Listen and hear my voice;
pay attention and hear what I say. 24 When a farmer plows for
planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the
soil? 25 When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway
and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field? 26 His God instructs him and teaches him the
right way. 27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the
wheel of a cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin
with a stick. 28 Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not
go on threshing it forever. The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over
it, but one does not use horses to grind grain. 29 All this also
comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is
magnificent.
God could be compared to a farmer that is busy in many
aspects of preparing, sowing, reaping etc. The farmer doesn’t spend all his
time doing the same thing. He didn’t
prepare and harvest every crop in the same way.
Was he inconsistent? Was he
unfair? No. He has a plan and all the activities work
toward a glorious plan. God does not act the same way with the
same people all the time. Yet He cannot
be charged with injustice or inconsistency.
God does not subscribe to a program but His ways are perfect, to bring
about a glorious end.
“God's ways are beyond understanding, but he is wise and
constantly at work, doing exactly what is needed to achieve his purpose with
his people.” (Trent Butler)
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