A Root Out of Dry Ground

A Root Out of Dry Ground

I was greatly encouraged by my recent trip to Niger to see what God is doing in this dry land. I was reminded of a picture my father had on his office wall of a parched, cracked piece of ground in the middle of which a small green shoot had sprung up. Under the picture was the Scripture for Isaiah 53:1-2.

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.”

This is a prophetic word about how Jesus was going to come in weakness and suffering to redeem mankind. But it was a constant reminder to my father that there was no ground too hard for the truth of God to take root.

Jesus said,"This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain-- first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.” Mark 4:26-28

I Corinthians 3:7 says, “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”

Our responsibility is not to convert the soul but to simply declare the Word, plant the seed, no matter how hard and barren the ground may seem. Secondly, we need to have an unshakable confidence in the power of the Word to convert the soul. Knowing that in God’s timing and in the right spiritual atmosphere, this seed that we have planted will spring forth into everlasting life. I’m reminded of scenes of deserts that have been dry for years suddenly spring forth into beautiful growth with a season of rain.

The twelve years that my parents sowed seed in the barren desert of an unreached Muslim people group, drenched with tears of intercession, forty-five years later is now producing a harvest.

The Bible says, “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms 126:6

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

May God by His Spirit renew your strength and confidence in the power of His Word.

Your co-worker in Christ,

Andy Clark