By: Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
How did Bible-time farming methods differ from today’s methods?
Obviously, the equipment differed greatly. One of the major differences was not using all the artificial chemicals for weed and pest control. Though the chemicals often seem to improve the profit, they often have bad side effects on helpful soil creatures and people.
God had other ways to increase crop production, mostly based on His blessing for obedience and sacrifice (Leviticus 26:3-5) “If ye walk in my statutes and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.” He also required them to let the land rest every seventh year (Leviticus 25:3-4). They still had enough because of God’s promise to bless the sixth year with a double-sized harvest to see them through (Leviticus 25:20-21).
Today most farmers push and deplete their land for ongoing annual crops. They try to build it back up by adding more artificial chemicals instead of trying to live all out for God and trust Him to bless their crops.
Another recent trend is no-till farming. Lack of aeration, greater use of burn down chemicals and more soil compaction are all contrary to God’s tilling plan (Genesis 2:5, 3:23, 4:12; II Samuel 9:10; Proverbs 12:11, 13:23, 28:19; Jeremiah 27:11).
Who could know more about farming than the Creator of the land, plants and environment?
Send questions and comments to: jamesbachman@juno.com
