REAP YOUR HARVEST
by: Kelly Daniel
1 Samuel 6:1-9
After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it to Ashdod and Gath as a trophy piece that they had defeated the God of Israel. Every place the Philistines took the ark bad things happened to the people. Finally, they decided to send it back to Israel to avoid God’s wrath on their land.
When they decided to send the ark back to Israel, they put it on a cart that was pulled by two milk cows. They said, “If it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us .” (1 Samuel 6:9) Where do you think these two milk cows, which had probably NEVER PULLED ANYTHING BEFORE in their lives, went? They went straight to Bethshemesh, a city of Israel, thus assuring the Philistines that what was happening to them was indeed from the God of Israel. Imagine the FEAR OF GOD that gripped the hearts of the Philistines! If there was ever a time when the Philistines were ripe to hear of God’s saving grace, it was then.
So, why were the Israelites more excited about getting back their “RELIC” than in seeing what God was doing? Does God take pleasure in destroying people? According to Ezekiel 18:23 He does not. Why then, didn’t Israel send any MISSIONARIES into the Philistine’s land and take advantage of the work that God had begun to do in their hearts? Why didn’t Israel try to WIN THEM TO THE MESSIAH? They didn’t try because Israel was spiritually asleep and could not see ANY LOST SOULS past the end of their nose.
That generation of Israelites will be dealt with very severely by God in the judgment for not reaping that harvest of Philistine souls that God had prepared to be reaped. Shame on them!
BUT WAIT…WHAT ABOUT YOU MY FRIEND? Acts 20:23 says that the Holy Spirit witnesses in EVERY CITY!!! In your area, you are responsible for the harvest of souls that the Holy Spirit has already prepared. Just like God had prepared the Philistines, He has prepared people in your city to be reached. It is a shame that the saved spend their lives doing everything but harvesting the souls that are ready to harvest. You will not enjoy reaping rewards at God’s judgment. I challenge you to get out and harvest the souls in your field who WANT TO BE SAVED! I wonder if Goliath would have been reached if the Israelites would have reached the harvest while it was ripe? There is a Goliath in your future that you could avoid if you will simply reap the harvest that God has prepared for you.
Kelly Daniel
Assistant Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Fundamental
Lewisville, TX