After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel were fighting against the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. God selected the tribe of Judah to lead Israel into battle against the Canaanites. The tribes of Judah and Simeon fought the Canaanites and the Perizites and slew ten thousand men. They pursued after Adoni-Bezek, King of Bezek, and captured him. The Israelites then cut off Adoni-Bezek's thumbs and big toes. You might ask, "Why would the Israelites cut off Adoni-Bezek's thumbs and big toes? How cruel!" Adoni-Bezek himself answered this question for us. He said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me" (Judges 1:7 NKJV). Adoni-Bezek acknowledged that he was reaping what he had sown! As he had done to others, so it had been done unto him.

In the beginning of time, God established the law of sowing and reaping. In the Genesis account of creation, we read that God decreed that every living thing was to produce after its own kind (cf. Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25). This divine law still holds true today. For example, if you plant corn, you will reap corn. If you plant an apple tree, you will reap apples. The law of sowing and reaping is true physically, and it is also true spiritually speaking. The apostle Paul wrote, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:7-8). Do not fool yourself: you cannot fool God! He sees, hears, and knows all and will repay accordingly!

When people sow sinful and evil things in their lives, they will reap the consequences of their actions. Consider the following examples of sowing to the flesh. If Christian parents sow the seeds of bad examples of using drugs like alcohol and tobacco, using profanity, or not attending worship services faithfully, they will reap it in their children's conduct. If they sow the seeds of dishonesty, it will return to haunt them one day. If you sow the seed of sexual immorality, you will reap unwed pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and possibly even death. If you sow the seed of alcohol, you will reap accidents, financial losses, a broken home, injury, and death. If you sow the seed of being unwilling to forgive others, you will reap no forgiveness or mercy from God. Sowing to the flesh will result in reaping the eternal consequence of sin damnation for eternity in a devil's hell! (cf. Matthew 25:41, 46).

On the other hand, if we sow to the Spirit by following the teachings of God's Word, we will reap life everlasting! The faithful Christian will one day receive an "inheritance" in heaven that is "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 1:4). If you are not a Christian, become a child of God, and then be faithful to the Lord! (cf. Galatians 3:26-27; Revelation 2:10). "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9). "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10).

A person cannot go through life sowing "wild oats" and then pray for a crop failure. You and I will reap what we sow in life. Jesus has said that we will be rewarded "every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27). Just like Adoni-Bezek, we will suffer the consequences of our bad choices and sinful actions. What are you sowing in your life? Are you sowing to the flesh, or are you sowing to the things of God? Know this: We are sowing to one or the other. There is no other alternative. You and I must choose. -1311 Sanlor Ave, West Milton, Ohio 45383.

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