But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
Micah 4:12 (NIV)
Reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder gives us a glimpse into the life of a farmer in the nineteenth century. The toil of planting, the joy of the harvest. As well as the anguish when crops were ruined by grasshoppers, fires, floods, snow.
The reader is drawn into Pa’s life as he faces his fields every day. As he watches his corn grow in one day, only to be devoured in minutes by starving insects, the next. His harvests were not many, as he had set back after set back, not unlike many of the farmers in his area during 1870-1880’s.
Growing one’s own food was the way of life for much of the nation over an hundred years ago. And to some degree, while not necessarily here in the US, it is in other parts of the world.
Every stage was done by hand, or with minimal machinery. Nowadays, many crops are harvested mechanically, but some crops still require the touch of mankind to yield it’s bounty.
The threshing floor was designed for the farmer to bring out the kernel of grain from the sheaves. Occurring late in the summer, the sheaves would be the bulk of the harvested plants still containing its precious cargo – the grain to eat. However, there was straw and/or debris surrounding the seed. The fruit was embedded in a casing of protection.
To thresh means to loosen and expose the fruit of the plant. After this stage, the farmer would blow away, or use wind to blow away the chaff, leaving the heavier kernels on the ground to be scooped up and bagged for further use. Hours would be required but there was great satisfaction in seeing the burlap sacks filled or silos brimming to the top.
God uses the threshing floor too. In fact, this floor is mentioned a few times in Scripture. Micah prophesied God would gather His plans on the threshing floor. Since we know threshing reveals the fruit, God would be putting His plans on the floor so we could see them. His plans would be revealed – in time.
While not directly tied to a specific incidence in Scripture, there are principles we can apply to God’s threshing floor in our lives. The act of threshing is painful to the plant, but fruit is exposed and useful. No chaff to clog up the uses of the fruit. Chaff is a by-product with minimal usage. However, the fruit is choice and has many beneficial uses.
Suffering is a threshing floor of sorts. Suffering is the flail God can use to remove the chaff (sins, unholiness) from our lives, and expose the fruit – love, joy, peace, etc. In this case, threshing is painful as well. Whether we hold tightly to our chaff, or whether we have much to remove, the process could be intense. And long.
Having suffered for 4+ years with broken feet, being on the threshing floor is nothing new. In fact, I have nothing left, and to some degree, feel I have nothing left to give.
What is interesting is threshing comes after the harvest, not before. It is to the dried plant the flail is applied, chaff removed, and fruit brought forth or allowed to be left behind for further use.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)
It is in triumph there is a harvest. It is gathering the sheaves and pounding them on the threshing floor, the crop becomes useful. It is during this process the fragrance of the year permeates the floor, the barn, the very lives of the farmer.
God chooses to use suffering to bring forth good because He is good and does good (Psalm 119:68). He does not willingly afflict His people (Lamentations 3:33), however, the process is for our benefit, good, and the bringing forth fruit, holiness, and the fragrance of Christ.
Things to ponder:
Have we been looking at suffering differently than God? God harvests, and God threshes. In that order.
What is He harvesting from us?
When does He know to harvest? What fruit is He looking for in us?
He has planted His Word in our hearts; is His Word the fruit He sees come to full completion in His saints?
PRAYER
Father God, You are amazing and what You do in good. So good. Even if it is painful, the threshing floor is for my good and it brings forth the fragrance and fruit of Christ in me, and in others - I submit to the harvest and to the threshing because I know You are a loving and compassionate Father, slow to anger and abounding in love (Exodus 34:6) – and this is all for me, Your child. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN
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