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"You shall sow, but not reap"

Text: Micah 6:15

THE FORGOTTEN ADMONITION OF MOSES

Moses had given warning after warning in the book of Deuteronomy to Israel concerning the sin and danger of forsaking God and turning to idolatry. But his words had fallen on deaf ears (Deuteronomy 27-28).

“You shall sow, but not reap;
You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
And make sweet wine, but not drink wine.”
Micah 6:15

1. “You shall sow”

a) Wheat and barley were sown.

b) Olives and vineyards were planted.

c) The land of Israel was favourable to these agrarian activities.

2. “But not reap”

a) If the rains did not come, drought would destroy all crops.

b) Plagues of locusts could affect the fields devastatingly.

c) Marauders can come during harvest time and take away what has been threshed.

3. “You shall tread the olives”

a) Some olives would be served at meal time.

b) The bulk is pressed and olive oil is produced:

i) For cooking

ii) For anointing (to refresh oneself)

c) “But not anoint yourselves”

i) Because of crop failure.

ii) Because of the enemies.

iii) Because the harvest has been snatched away.

4. “And make sweet wine”

a) Some become table grapes.

b) The bulk of the grapes would be made into sweet wine (one of the wine varieties).

c) “But not drink wine”

i) Because of crop failure.

ii) Because of enemies.

Because God will withdraw His hand of protection and blessing!