Topical Encyclopedia Agriculture, as a divine institution, is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting God's provision and the stewardship responsibilities entrusted to humanity. From the very beginning, the Bible presents agriculture as an integral part of God's creation and His plan for human sustenance and flourishing.Creation and the Garden of Eden The concept of agriculture is introduced in the Genesis account of creation. God, after forming man from the dust of the ground, placed him in the Garden of Eden to "work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). This mandate signifies the divine institution of agriculture, where humanity is called to cultivate and care for the land. The garden itself, abundant with trees "pleasing to the eye and good for food" (Genesis 2:9), exemplifies God's provision through the earth's produce. Post-Fall Agriculture Following the fall of man, agriculture takes on a new dimension. The ground is cursed because of Adam's disobedience, and God declares, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread" (Genesis 3:19). This pronouncement underscores the toil and labor now associated with agriculture, yet it remains a means through which God provides for humanity's needs. Covenant with Noah After the flood, God reaffirms the importance of agriculture in His covenant with Noah. He promises, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease" (Genesis 8:22). This assurance highlights the ongoing cycles of nature and the reliability of agricultural seasons as part of God's faithful provision. Israel and the Promised Land For the nation of Israel, agriculture was central to their identity and relationship with God. The Promised Land is described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), emphasizing its agricultural richness. The Israelites were instructed in various agricultural laws and practices, such as the Sabbatical year and the Year of Jubilee, which underscored principles of rest, renewal, and reliance on God's provision (Leviticus 25:1-7). Feasts and Offerings Agricultural produce played a significant role in Israel's worship and religious observances. The Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) were directly tied to the harvest cycles, serving as times to offer the first and best of the land's produce to God (Leviticus 23:10-21). These offerings were acts of gratitude and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over the land and its yield. Prophetic Imagery The prophets frequently used agricultural imagery to convey spiritual truths and divine promises. For instance, the prophet Amos speaks of a time when "the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes the sower of seed" (Amos 9:13), symbolizing abundance and restoration. Such imagery reinforces the idea of agriculture as a reflection of God's blessing and future hope. New Testament Parables In the New Testament, Jesus often employed agricultural metaphors in His parables to illustrate spiritual principles. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9) and the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30) draw on familiar agricultural practices to teach about the kingdom of God, the reception of the Word, and the final judgment. Conclusion Throughout the biblical narrative, agriculture is portrayed as a divine institution, integral to God's creation and His ongoing relationship with humanity. It serves as a means of provision, a context for obedience and worship, and a metaphor for spiritual truths. The biblical perspective on agriculture underscores the themes of stewardship, reliance on God's provision, and the anticipation of a restored creation. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 2:15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 3:19,23 Library Chapter ix Letter cxxxviii. (AD 412. ) Chapter iv Shakers, or the United Society of Believers. The Social Test of Religion The Bread of the Presence From the Beginning of 1785 to the End of 1786 The First victory for Dissent His First Residence in Germany. The General Conference of 1840 Resources What is the significance of Galilee in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the Hutterites, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org What is the Shemitah? | GotQuestions.org Agriculture: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Agriculture or Farming was Promoted Amongst the Jews by Allotments to Each Family Agriculture or Farming was Promoted Amongst the Jews by Separation from Other Nations Agriculture or Farming was Promoted Amongst the Jews by The Prohibition Against Usury Agriculture or Farming was Promoted Amongst the Jews by The Promises of God's Blessings On Agriculture or Farming was Promoted Amongst the Jews by The Rights of Redemption Agriculture or Farming: Beasts Used in The Donkey Agriculture or Farming: Beasts Used in The Horse Agriculture or Farming: Beasts Used in The Ox Agriculture or Farming: Climate of Canaan Favourable To Agriculture or Farming: Contributes to the Support of All Agriculture or Farming: Culture of the Church Agriculture or Farming: Culture of the Heart Agriculture or Farming: Diligence In, Abundantly Recompensed Agriculture or Farming: Enactments to Protect: Against Injuring the Produce of Agriculture or Farming: Enactments to Protect: Against the Trespass of Cattle Agriculture or Farming: Enactments to Protect: Not to Covet the Fields of Another Agriculture or Farming: Enactments to Protect: Not to Cut Down Crops of Another Agriculture or Farming: Enactments to Protect: Not to Move Landmarks Agriculture or Farming: Grief Occasioned by the Failure of the Fruits of Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Axe Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Cart Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Fan Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Flail Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Fork Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Harrow Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Mattock Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Plough Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Pruning-Hook Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Shovel Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Sickle Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Sieve Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Teethed Threshing Instrument Agriculture or Farming: Man Doomed to Labour In, After the Fall Agriculture or Farming: Not to be Engaged in During the Sabbatical Year Agriculture or Farming: Often Performed by Hirelings Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Binding Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Digging Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Gathering out the Stones Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Gleaning Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Grafting Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Harrowing Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Hedging Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Manuring Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Mowing Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Planting Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Ploughing Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Pruning Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Reaping Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Sowing Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Stacking Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Storing in Barns Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Threshing Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Watering Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Weeding Agriculture or Farming: Operations in Winnowing Agriculture or Farming: Patriarchs Engaged In Agriculture or Farming: Peace Favourable To Agriculture or Farming: Persons Engaged In, Called: Husbandmen Agriculture or Farming: Persons Engaged In, Called: Labourers Agriculture or Farming: Persons Engaged In, Called: Tillers of the Ground Agriculture or Farming: Produce of, Exported Agriculture or Farming: Produce of, Given As Rent for Land Agriculture or Farming: Produce of, often Blasted Because of Sin Agriculture or Farming: Rendered Laborious by the Curse on the Earth Agriculture or Farming: Requires: Diligence Agriculture or Farming: Requires: Patience in Waiting Agriculture or Farming: Requires: Toil Agriculture or Farming: Requires: Wisdom Agriculture or Farming: Soil of Canaan Suited To Agriculture or Farming: The Cultivation of the Earth Agriculture or Farming: The Jews Loved and Followed Agriculture or Farming: The Labour of, Supposed to be Lessened by Noah Agriculture or Farming: The Occupation of Man Before the Fall Agriculture or Farming: The Providence of God to be Acknowledged in the Produce of Agriculture or Farming: War Destructive To Agriculture: Called Tiller of the Ground Agriculture: Divine Institution of Agriculture: Fruits Blasted Because of Sin Agriculture: God to be Acknowledged In Agriculture: Persons Engaged In, Called Husbandmen Agriculture: Planters of Vineyards, Exempted from Military Service Agriculture: Practiced by Cain Agriculture: Practiced by David Agriculture: Practiced by Elisha Agriculture: Practiced by Noah Agriculture: Practiced by Solomon Agriculture: Practiced by Uzziah Agriculture: Requires Diligence Agriculture: Requires Patience Agriculture: Sowing Wheat, But Reaping Thorns Related Terms Threshingfloor (18 Occurrences) |
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