Does This Make Sense?
When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 10:23-25
Does this really make sense? How do you increase your harvest by following what seems to be a rather "absurd" rule? Work hard to plant your fruit trees but don't harvest any for yourself for four years? Simply regard all that fruit as a holy offering of praise to God!
But that was the word of God to the Israelites. The first four years of harvest were not to be consumed by them but to be turned over to God as holy offerings to praise God. It is interesting that God concludes by saying, "I am the LORD." In other words, I know what I am doing. I am the all-powerful and Sovereign God who is the source of your provision so just trust me even though it makes no sense to you!
Oftentimes the things God requires of us seem not to make much sense in the natural realm. He wants us to feed our enemies, bless those who persecute us, repay evil with good and go the extra mile for those who are unreasonable with us.
But that is how God works to attain maximum results in our lives. The ways of God are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that "The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (I Cor. 1:25). What might seem foolish to us is often the divinely ordained way to accomplish the most.
When God asks us to march toward the Red Sea, it might not make sense but it is simply because He is ready to part it for us. When He instructs us to march around the wall of Jericho and look ridiculous to onlookers, it might not look like a sensible military strategy but it is because He is ready to pull it down.
So, what if we adopted the "foolish" ways of God?
Could it be that those foolish ways might be the wisest and quickest way to accomplish the most? God's ways might not always make sense to us but it always works.
But that was the word of God to the Israelites. The first four years of harvest were not to be consumed by them but to be turned over to God as holy offerings to praise God. It is interesting that God concludes by saying, "I am the LORD." In other words, I know what I am doing. I am the all-powerful and Sovereign God who is the source of your provision so just trust me even though it makes no sense to you!
Oftentimes the things God requires of us seem not to make much sense in the natural realm. He wants us to feed our enemies, bless those who persecute us, repay evil with good and go the extra mile for those who are unreasonable with us.
But that is how God works to attain maximum results in our lives. The ways of God are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that "The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (I Cor. 1:25). What might seem foolish to us is often the divinely ordained way to accomplish the most.
When God asks us to march toward the Red Sea, it might not make sense but it is simply because He is ready to part it for us. When He instructs us to march around the wall of Jericho and look ridiculous to onlookers, it might not look like a sensible military strategy but it is because He is ready to pull it down.
So, what if we adopted the "foolish" ways of God?
Could it be that those foolish ways might be the wisest and quickest way to accomplish the most? God's ways might not always make sense to us but it always works.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you are all-knowing and all-powerful. Please help me to obediently follow your instructions even when it seems "foolish" because your "foolishness" is wiser than my wisdom. Amen.