Journeying through life, the Christian will sometimes come to seasons that leave them questioning whether God is indeed the one in control of his times and seasons. One may reflect on the circumstances surrounding their birth, on past challenges, or even on their present, seemingly insurmountable mountains, and wonder how to reconcile it all with God.
To say that God has it all figured out is to assert God’s sovereign rule in the world. God directs the happenings in the world. He has had a plan all along and an ultimate design for humanity and the world we live in. Nothing in our lives is a surprise to God; all circumstances, timings, and outcomes are directed to fulfill his ultimate plan. Isaiah 5:1-2 carries great insights into God’s providential working in our lives.
Background
Isaiah 5 starts with a parable of an unproductive vineyard. A parable is a story that uses one realm of life to illuminate another. The story is about a vineyard that was well attended to by the gardener. The vineyard owner was very strategic in his approach. Every move was well calculated to ensure that the vineyard was productive. He chose a fertile hillside for the vineyard, prepared the ground for the seed by clearing every hindrance to its productivity, planted it with the choicest vines, and built a watchtower and a winepress in it. Despite his efforts and high expectations, the yield was disappointing. The vineyard, as you may have guessed already, is Judah, God’s beloved.
Your Fertile Ground
God looked for a fertile hillside to plant his vineyard (Isaiah 5:1). Judah/Jerusalem was planted in a good land so they could fulfil God’s purpose. Geographically, Israel was strategically placed at the center of the trade route, where all nations could interact with them and learn about God. I believe God has similar intentions for where he has planted us.
Some of us come from affluent backgrounds, while others grew up in slums. Some went to national schools, others provincial or district schools, and others still the dilapidated building next door that could hardly pass for a school. Whatever our lot, God’s agenda was always bigger than we could imagine and his love beyond comprehending. He cares no less for the poor than he does the affluent. While we are often preoccupied with negativity or the satisfaction of our past, God is interested in our productivity (John 15:5). Wherever you are, that is your fertile ground. There is no excuse for not bearing fruit for God’s kingdom.
Preparation of the Land
God did not plant the vines before preparing the land. The scripture says that the owner of the vineyard dug it up and cleared off the stones (Isaiah 5:1). When farmers prepare the land for planting, they do not clear off all the stones, as the seeds planted can overcome others. They only remove the bigger threats and leave whatever else they are certain the seeds will handle. God made sure that the land for planting was well prepared before planting.
Similarly, God, in his providence, prepared the land for us before we came. Everything that could hinder our productivity was addressed. Whatever we face, he has created us with the ability to rise above it. Every generation has the capacity to navigate its issues. God has allowed you to undergo certain hardships for your personal growth and for the expansion of his kingdom through you. He does not bring sorrow for sorrow’s sake. The challenges we experience are for our dependency on God, lest we think we are gods ourselves. They help us see God at work in our lives, even as our influence expands to other places.
You are God’s Choicest Vine
After preparing the land, the vinedresser looked for the best vine and planted it. During tough times, we get easily tempted to laugh off any idea of being God’s choicest vine. But however sad or kindly our faring, we are not products of chance, but such as are wonderfully and fearfully made, with each of our days written in God’s book (Psalm 139:14-16).
God’s love for you is not dependent on where you were born or the community you live in. As a matter of fact, even if you were the only one in the world, Christ could still have died for you (John 3:16). God cares profoundly about your life; he is your protector and expects you to be productive for him. He expects us to bear a harvest of righteousness. He has saved us by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8) and has also given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to live a holy life (John 15:26-27). We have no excuse for not bearing fruit.
God is Present and Involved in Your Life
God built a watchtower to take care of his vineyard. A watchtower was used to see an approaching enemy; then the watchman could sound a trumpet to warn the people to prepare for battle. The owner of the vineyard also cut out a wine press. The wine press is used to press the grapes, allowing them to produce wine.
God is watching over our lives, not from a distance, as some singer has sung. He did not create the world and hop off, leaving it to run without his involvement. We are not lone rangers in the world. God is involved in governments and their transitions, in climate change, and even in technological changes; they don’t find him by surprise. Just as a winepress extracts wine from grapes, we too will encounter situations that compel us to do our best and reach our full potential. All these are by God’s hand of providence. He knows exactly what his people need to produce fruit for his glory.
Failure to Produce Disappoints God
The analogy of Isaiah 5:1-2 ends rather sadly. A time came for the owner to harvest his crop, only to find his vineyard had produced wild grapes. He was disappointed and asked the people to judge between him and his vineyard to see who failed on their part.
God’s providence is meant to make us productive for his kingdom and bring him glory. We often give excuses for our failures. Before God created human beings, he ensured that everything necessary for their sustenance and productivity was provided. His presence, he assures, is with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20), if indeed we are proven faithful in advancing his kingdom (Matthew 28:19).