Day 3: Leave what remains...
Moses leans a little heavier on his staff, his skin has become like worn leather, and his hair is whiter now than it was 40 years ago. But he still stands tall with fire in his eyes.
For quite some time he has worked on a document that describes the covenant God is making with the small nation of Israel. Just as nations have treaties and covenants with other nations, Moses writes down the words and concepts God desires to have as a covenant, a relationship, with Israel so they can flourish in the new land. Perhaps Joshua and a few others helped with some of the writing as he dictates, and the whole group has been waiting to hear what God has to say.
Early this morning, everyone assembled to listen to Moses. Many hours have passed since Moses began to recount the history of Israel and all the miracles of the Exodus to a generation who never experienced any of it. Their parents and grandparents who chose fear over faith lie buried in the desert, and now this group of young people anticipates entering the Promised Land.
It is now afternoon, and Moses has taken a seat to continue reading. He comes to the part where God prescribes a climate of compassion and justice as a condition for flourishing.
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. (Deuteronomy 24:19-22 NIV)
As the sun gets lower in the sky, Moses continues,
I command you today to love the Lord your God… keep his commands… then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. (Deuteronomy 30:16 NIV)
Vineyard Metaphor
In addition to soil and topography, climate is a contributing factor to terroir.
The general weather conditions in an area provide a context for growth. Is the climate hot and dry? Cabernet Sauvignon will thrive. Is there fog in the morning to keep the grapes cool? Perhaps Pinot Noir will flourish. What is the diurnal shift in the area? Does it cool off at night and get hot during the day, with a swing of 30 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit? Perfect for Zinfandel! Is there a season of cold to promote dormancy and rest?
A wise vineyard manager will understand the climate and choose to plant a varietal that will thrive accordingly. Historians imagine that if someone had planted Cabernet Sauvignon in the Russian River Valley where the climate is cool and foggy, they might have surmised that California was not a good place to plant Cabernet. Providentially, Napa Valley has the necessary hot, dry climate and a nice diurnal shift. The Russian River Valley, however, is one of the world’s best climates to grow Pinot Noir, which would not survive in Napa Valley.
As humans, not only are we affected by the climates that swirl around us, but we also have an effect on those climates. There are political climates, social climates, environmental climates, work climates, and so on. Throughout the Bible, God urges humanity and especially those who claim to bear God’s name to create and maintain a climate of justice and compassion. If we, as God’s image bearers, fail to care for the foreigner and the marginalized within our context, we will not flourish. It will be as if we planted Cabernet Sauvignon in the Russian River Valley.
Reflection and Meditation
Take a moment to reflect on the context in which you live.
Consider your work climate, your family, and where you are located socially and politically. What “climates” are influencing your heart and mind? Are they climates filled with justice and compassion? Are the climates contributing to your flourishing?
Now, consider the effect you are having on the climates around you. How are you contributing to a climate of justice and compassion for others, especially the outcast and the “other”?
Let your honest answers move you to repentance and worship.
Allow God to draw you into the light of his loving care as you seek to live justly. Open your heart to receive what God has for you.
“We must not just seek justice but live justly. Justice work and just living are part of our discipleship. Justice contributes to our worship of God. Justice is worship. We need to see justice as a critical part of God’s character and, thus, our discipleship and worship.”