2020
We’re living in interesting times, aren’t we? Wherever I look, I see noxious weeds growing in the soil of society, ready to choke out many good plants that we’ve been neglecting. Are the weeds we see inevitable? Are nations and economies like gardens that can only be managed for a season, then must be tilled and started over? Or is there a sustainable way to keep people secure and responsible, yet free?
I have really come to appreciate the system found in the writings of Moses. While these civil laws were given in circumstances very different from the circumstances we face, they give an ideal that would make the world a much better place.
To begin, let’s name some of the problems that are growing like weeds in society:
- Poverty on one hand, and the enabling of irresponsibility on the other
- Monopolization on one hand, and restriction of free enterprise on the other
- Purposelessness on one hand, overwork on the other
- Declining health and vigor of the general population
- Artificial, mundane life for many people
The system of land ownership, privileges and duties found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy gives a brilliant solution to these problems.
Details of the System
When God gave the land of Canaan to the children of Israel, He told them to divide the land among their tribes and families (Numbers 33:54). Once divided, the land would be passed on from generation to generation within the family.
Land could not be sold permanently: all land was to be returned to the family it had been assigned to at every Year of Jubilee. The year of Jubilee occurred every fifty years (Leviticus 25:10).
If someone became poor, he could sell his land. Later, if he was financially able, he could buy his land back, paying the value according to the length of time remaining until the Year of Jubilee. Relatives were also allowed to redeem his land for him (Leviticus 25:25-28)
The poor were to be helped generously. However, if someone became so poor that he couldn’t supply his needs, he could sell himself to be another citizen’s servant. Every seventh year, such servants were not only allowed to go free, but also given resources needed to make a new start in life (Deuteronomy 15:7-14). Some Bible translations use the word slave to describe these servants, but this was not slavery the way we think if it in our times. These servants were to be treated as hired workers, and were protected by law (Leviticus 25:39,40; Exodus 21:26,27).
Landowners were not allowed to glean their crops. Anything they missed in the initial harvest had to be left for the poor to come get (Leviticus 19:9,10). I find it significant that this command is given just before the command to not steal.
People were allowed to eat what they needed from other people’s unharvested crops, but they were not allowed to take more than their current need demanded (Deuteronomy 23:24,25).
Effects of the System
Poverty
If I was an Israelite back then, I would have my own plot of land. I could grow my own food, and grow extra produce to sell. If I had a hard season, I could eat what I needed from others’ unharvested crops. Then, I could glean what I needed for the year from what farmers were required to leave behind. However, I would not be enabled to just be lazy and have what I needed brought to me. Side note: there was another system in place for those who were poor and couldn’t work. This came from tithes.
If, through further misfortune or poor management, I became so poor that I couldn’t survive or provide for my family otherwise, I could sell myself as a servant. I would then be working for someone who was successful enough to afford my labor. If I was wise, I would be watching and learning while I was working for him. Then, when I was let go in the seventh year, I would have essentially completed a six-year apprenticeship, and should have the skills and wisdom needed to make a success of my new start in life.
Business Opportunity
Many businesses in ancient Israel could be run in much the same way as they’re run now. That said, farmers would face some key differences. They would not be able to own a thousand-acre farm. On the other hand, they would not have to face the difficulties of trying to compete with thousand-acre farms. They would want to focus on the long-term health and sustainability of their soil, knowing that the success of their sons would depend upon their land. This would lead to many other benefits:
Variety
The efficient way to use people’s labor is to have every man do his job, get really good as his job, and do nothing else. The blacksmith gets really good at metal work – and does nothing but form metal. The sawyer learns to make lumber really well – and spends his life making lumber. This would be great and ideal – if we were robots.
God’s ideal is for us to enjoy a pleasant variety of education and duties throughout our lives. Small-scale agriculture allows for this in a way that’s unparalleled by almost any other occupation. Soil science, business planning, food processing, marketing, manning a crew, building storage shelters… the list of education and skills that can improve a small farm is virtually endless. Also, many people who own small sections of land broaden their horizons by just doing low-maintenance gardening while working at another occupation part-time.
Social Connections
Because the land in ancient Israel was passed down to the children, wise fathers would work with their children, training them step by step how to run a successful business on the farm. This would provide excellent opportunities for the fatherly mentorship that is often sadly lacking nowadays. The tune of many lives would not need to be “’When you coming home Dad’, ‘I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, Son, I know we’ll have a good time then.’”
Having the land passed on from generation to generation would also provide for the needs of every generation. The grandparents would be there to help with the kids. The kids would be there to help their aging parents. Family would be there to run the business while you took a vacation, when you needed more hands in the busy times, and when you were bored in the slow times.
Health
Science keeps finding more ways that gardening improves our health. Gardening improves physical health in more ways than just by providing exercise. They also improve mental health and performance – in big ways for some people.
Food grown in a garden is typically grown for quality, using simple methods that tend to improve the soil. In contrast, large-scale agriculture tends to use methods that focus on quantity, and harm the soil. Foods grown in damaged soil may look fine, but they often lack sufficient vitamins and minerals to keep one healthy. It’s nice to be able to buy cheap, mass-produced food; but the money saved on food bills often ends up going to the doctor and the pharmacist.
I’m convinced that if more people had small gardens, overall health would improve significantly. This would eventually lead to people being wealthier and less overworked, even though more work would be put into growing food.
Learning from Nature
Nature has so much to teach us. Sometimes thorns and weeds teach us more about ourselves than we’d like to learn. More importantly, we can learn about our Creator’s character in nature.
Sunshine and rain teach us about how God provides for our needs. Flowers and songbirds teach us that God loves to provide, not only for our needs, but also for our happiness. The care needed to keep garden plants healthy shows us a glimpse of the careful attention with which God works in our lives. The personal growth that comes from facing the challenges of the natural world shows us that God doesn’t want us to need to be spoon-fed; He wants us to grow into noble independence. And the list goes on.
Reality
Okay, so you don’t live in Ancient Israel. It’s nice to learn about a better system, but that may never happen in your lifetime. It is not God’s plan for us to conquer and re-divide the land. Should you forget this idea, and just live life in this world’s current norm?
Pray about that.
God may inspire you to grow a balcony garden and spend more time in the park. God may open the door for you to move to the country. Whatever the case, God will provide ways for you to get to know Him, and to develop a character that’s in harmony with Him. He wants you to enjoy this Earth when He re-creates it and makes it perfect. When everyone here will have become so loving and unselfish that everyone will enjoy perfect freedom, perfect security, and prosperity better than you can imagine.