Trusting God’s provision ensures that no lack is permanent.
‘When you are sowing in the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the old crop, eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in.’ (v.22) The LORD is assuring the Israelites that their provisions in the land of Canaan will be sustained if they honor the sabbatical rest He has established (Leviticus 25:1-4). Canaan, located in the ancient Near East along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, was where God’s chosen people settled around 1406 BC. This command demonstrates that even while they sow seeds in the eighth year, their reliance on existing stores of produce from previous years will sustain them until new crops are harvested. God’s promise of ongoing provision underlines His sovereignty over nature and His care for those who trust Him.
‘When you are sowing in the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the old crop’ (v.22) also reminds Israel that sabbatical years were not meant to bring about lack or despair, but rather to build trust in God’s faithfulness. This reliance upon “old things” calls to mind how the LORD provided manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:29-31), indicating He is able to sustain His people in ways that do not always follow human expectations. The notion of depending on stored resources points to a bigger spiritual truth: when believers follow God’s commands, even if it appears impractical in the short term, He remains faithful to sustain and provide for them.
Finally, the phrase ‘eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in’ (v.22) testifies that Israel’s obedience in not cultivating the land every seventh year leads directly to experiencing God’s timely provision. It foreshadows the principle of dependence on God carried into the New Testament, where Jesus teaches His followers not to worry about food or clothing, promising that “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). The lesson for the believer is that abiding in God’s commands positions one to experience His supply in ways that surpass human planning.
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Leviticus 25:22 meaning
‘When you are sowing in the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the old crop, eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in.’ (v.22) The LORD is assuring the Israelites that their provisions in the land of Canaan will be sustained if they honor the sabbatical rest He has established (Leviticus 25:1-4). Canaan, located in the ancient Near East along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, was where God’s chosen people settled around 1406 BC. This command demonstrates that even while they sow seeds in the eighth year, their reliance on existing stores of produce from previous years will sustain them until new crops are harvested. God’s promise of ongoing provision underlines His sovereignty over nature and His care for those who trust Him.
‘When you are sowing in the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the old crop’ (v.22) also reminds Israel that sabbatical years were not meant to bring about lack or despair, but rather to build trust in God’s faithfulness. This reliance upon “old things” calls to mind how the LORD provided manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:29-31), indicating He is able to sustain His people in ways that do not always follow human expectations. The notion of depending on stored resources points to a bigger spiritual truth: when believers follow God’s commands, even if it appears impractical in the short term, He remains faithful to sustain and provide for them.
Finally, the phrase ‘eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in’ (v.22) testifies that Israel’s obedience in not cultivating the land every seventh year leads directly to experiencing God’s timely provision. It foreshadows the principle of dependence on God carried into the New Testament, where Jesus teaches His followers not to worry about food or clothing, promising that “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). The lesson for the believer is that abiding in God’s commands positions one to experience His supply in ways that surpass human planning.