Crops Always Come In

Understanding the Law of Reaping and Sowing: Lessons from Jacob's Life
Life has a way of teaching us hard lessons, and one of the most fundamental principles we encounter is the law of reaping and sowing. This isn't just a farming concept - it's a spiritual law that governs every aspect of our lives. Through examining Jacob's journey, we can understand how our choices create consequences that follow us for years, and more importantly, how God's grace works even in the midst of our poor decisions.

What Does the Bible Say About Reaping and Sowing?
Galatians 6:7-8 makes this principle crystal clear: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

This passage reveals several important truths:

• God cannot be fooled or replaced
• Every seed we plant will produce a harvest
• Fleshly choices lead to corruption
• Spiritual choices lead to eternal life

How Did Jacob's Early Choices Shape His Life?
The Seeds of Deception
Jacob's story begins with poor choices that would haunt him for decades. He took advantage of his brother Esau's weakness, trading a bowl of chili for Esau's birthright. Later, he participated in his mother's scheme to deceive his father Isaac and steal his brother's blessing.

These acts of deception planted seeds that would grow into a harvest of family dysfunction, broken relationships, and years of running from consequences.

Twenty Years of Doing Things His Way
After fleeing to Padanaram, Jacob spent twenty years living life on his terms. He made a conditional promise to God - "if God will be with me and keep me... then shall the Lord be my God." But throughout those years, there's no evidence he kept his promise to tithe or truly serve God.

During this time, Jacob accumulated wealth, multiple wives, and children, but he was sowing to the flesh rather than to the Spirit.

What Were the Consequences of Jacob's Choices?
Family Dysfunction and Heartbreak
The harvest of Jacob's poor choices became evident in his family life:

• His daughter Dinah was defiled by Shechem
• His sons Simeon and Levi committed mass murder in revenge
• His oldest son Reuben committed adultery with his stepmother
• His beloved son Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers

The Pattern of Reaping What Was Sown
Jacob had deceived his father and taken his brother's place. Years later, his own sons deceived him about Joseph's fate. Jacob had shown favoritism between his wives; his sons showed murderous hatred toward their favored brother. The cycle of dysfunction continued because bad seed produces bad crops.

How Can We Break the Cycle of Poor Choices?
Return to Bethel - The House of God
When Jacob's household was in complete disarray, God called him back to Bethel - the house of God. This required Jacob to clean house: remove the idols, change their clothes, and prepare to worship God properly.

Sometimes our lives become so cluttered with poor choices and their consequences that we need a complete spiritual housecleaning before we can move forward.

Don't Give Up on Good Seed
The temptation when facing the consequences of past poor choices is to give up on doing right. We look at our "cupboard full of Brussels sprouts" (the unpleasant consequences) and want to quit planting good seed.

But Galatians 6:9 encourages us: "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

What Good Can Come from Years of Poor Choices?
God's Redemptive Plan
Even in the midst of Jacob's family dysfunction, God was working. Joseph, the son Jacob thought he had lost forever, became the second-in-command of Egypt and ultimately saved not only Jacob's family but the known world from famine.

One good seed - Joseph raised to know and serve God - produced a harvest that blessed generations.

The Power of Persistence
Jacob didn't know Joseph was alive and thriving in Egypt. He couldn't see God's plan unfolding. But he continued to serve God, make sacrifices, and try to raise his family right despite the painful consequences still playing out in his life.

This persistence in doing right, even when we can't see the results, is what allows us to eventually enjoy God's good harvest.

How Do We Plant Good Seed Today?
Practical Steps for Spiritual Sowing
Planting good seed isn't complicated, but it requires intentionality:

• Give your life completely to Jesus Christ
• Read and study God's Word regularly
• Maintain a consistent prayer life
• Be faithful to God's house and His people
• Share the gospel with family, friends, and coworkers
• Live with integrity in all your relationships

Trust God with the Increase
We plant the seed, but God gives the increase. We may not know what blessings God has in store, but we can trust that His harvest is always worth the wait. When we sow to the Spirit, we reap spiritual blessings that far exceed anything we could produce on our own.

Why Should Young People Start Now?
Joseph was only seventeen when God gave him dreams about his future. Despite years of hardship - being sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned - God's plan ultimately brought him to a position of incredible influence and blessing.

Young people have the advantage of time. Starting early with good choices means less time dealing with the consequences of poor ones and more time enjoying God's blessings.

Life Application
The law of reaping and sowing is as certain as gravity - it cannot be defied. Everyone experiences it, whether they know Christ or not. The difference is that those who trust in God have His strength to endure the difficult harvests and His promise of good fruit from spiritual seeds.

This week, take time to honestly examine your life. What seeds are you currently planting? Are you sowing to the flesh or to the Spirit? Don't let the unpleasant consequences of past poor choices discourage you from planting good seed today.

Remember, you may have a cupboard full of "Brussels sprouts" from past mistakes, but God specializes in producing "bananas" - blessings that are sweet and satisfying beyond what we could imagine.

Questions for Reflection:

• What areas of my life show evidence of reaping what I've sown?
• Am I currently sowing to the flesh or to the Spirit in my daily choices?
• What good seeds can I start planting today, even while dealing with consequences from past poor choices?
• How can I trust God's timing when I can't see the results of my spiritual investments?

Don't quit when the harvest seems slow in coming. God's timing is perfect, and His blessings are worth the wait. Keep sowing good seed, and trust Him for the increase.