Three Men of the Soil
The early pages of Genesis provide several inspired vignettes highlighting man’s problem with sin. Within these, three deal with men of the soil. The problem begins with the very first man, Adam. Created for the noble purpose of partnering in the creation, God placed him in the Garden of Eden “to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15b). Sadly, Adam rebelled and was punished. God stated, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread” (Genesis 3:17-19a). What once had been pleasant stewardship now became grueling labor.
Adam’s son Cain followed in his father’s footsteps; he too was “a worker of the ground” (4:2b). From his labors, Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord; however, the Lord had no regard for his offering. This rejection produced such anger in Cain that he wanted to kill his brother Abel whose offering had been accepted. Although the Lord counseled Cain to control himself, he paid no heed and killed his brother. As punishment, God stated, “When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth” (4:12). While Adam had difficulty producing crops, the soil would be completely uncooperative for Cain.
The third man is rarely remembered for his farming; instead, he is noted for surviving a cataclysmic flood sent to destroy wicked mankind. This man of faith built an ark just as God commanded. He gathered the animals together and, along with his family, was saved by the grace of God. When the floods receded and Noah exited the ark, the text states, “Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard” (9:20). Sadly, he used his produce to make wine and became intoxicated. As he lay drunk, his son Ham looked upon his nakedness. Because of this, the descendants of Ham’s son Canaan were cursed.
Consider the commonalities of these three farmers. In all three cases there was an absence of discipline and self-control. Adam ate the forbidden fruit; Cain acted on uncontrolled passion; Noah drank and lost control of his senses. All three actions not only led to sin but also led to problems for later generations. There are important lessons God’s people should garner from these farmers.
In writing to the Galatians, Paul explained what is produced when one walks in step with the Spirit. He wrote that such a life produces the fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit results from living by spiritual standards; thus, self-control results from allowing God to control every facet of life.
The fruit of self-control is produced through godly discipline. While sometimes this refers to punishment, often this discipline is positive, leading one to walk in the ways of righteousness. A farmer knows what will happen if his tomatoes are not disciplined; thus, he ties them to stakes that send the vines upward; they grow in the direction he desires. God provides this type of discipline through His word; its principles help one to “grow straight” by explaining what is both holy and unholy. Consider how each farmer failed to accept discipline. God sought to discipline Adam by forbidding eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam not only should have learned the value of “thou shalt not” commands, but also the value of waiting on God. Adam did not wait. God sought to discipline Cain by teaching him to rule over his passions because “sin crouches at the door.” Cain failed. God disciplined Noah by allowing him to survive the punishment brought on his sinful fellow-humans. Sadly, Noah disembarked the ark only to bring antediluvian sin back into the cleansed world. All three men knew God’s discipline and all three rejected it. Self-control was not produced.
God’s faithful should accept and appreciate His discipline. Temptations press strongly against fidelity to Him. To this end, He commands, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world” (I John 2:15-16). The fruit looked good to Adam; displaced passion seemed acceptable to Cain; intoxication had its appeal for Noah. Unlike these three, the faithful of God must not fall sway to the powerful temptations of worldliness.
The writer James stated, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8). When what is off-limits appears irresistible; when raw passions seem the appropriate course; when the loss of reality through intoxicants seems enticing - stop! The patient farmer knows the harvest will be worth the disciplined wait. For the faithful, this wait may be difficult, but the reward will be worth it. With discipline and self-control, wait for the eternal harvest promised by the Lord.
