Reaping, Not Sown

“And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive-yards which ye planted not, do ye eat.”   Joshua 24:13


When we speak about being "blessed" by God, we usually mean that we are reaping where we have not sown. And, the reality is, many times the blessings we receive emanate from a completely unexpected source. Our tiny mustard seed of faith, watered and blessed by God, spreads across the earth taking our hopes and dreams with it. 

When the children of Israel left the wilderness, they were confounded in the Promise Land; they had no idea how they were going to survive. It was completely inconceivable to them, where they would live, what they would eat, or whom they would encounter. Although God had already foreseen and taken care of their every need, forty years had passed, and the new younger generation needed to learn how to trust God on their own. 

Joshua reminded this new generation how vitally important it was for them to continue to follow the laws of God, not simply because He was God; but because, He had blessed them abundantly, allowing them to destroy their enemies, and to reap where they had not sown.

Today's verse, found in the book of Joshua, speaks about the blessings God gave to the Children of Israel after they crossed over the Jordan River.  It is a reminder to remember the bestowing of the land that He handed to them in the presence of their enemies. Like the Children of Israel, sometimes, as a modern Believer, you may need a gentle reminder to acknowledge God's Blessing in your life.  

When you follow God’s agenda, He will bless you beyond your imagination, and without question, you will reap where you have not sown. You will prosper where others have begun the work and given up. You will lay claim to abundance, although you did not create it. —And, you will gain that, which you did not labor. You simply have to remember to obey God and trust in His Word.  L.

Study Reference: Joshua 24:1-31, Deuteronomy 6:10-11 
Excerpt From:"Reaping, Not Sown." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo credit: Loews
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