Seed Scarification
*This was originally sent out to the mailing list on 6/17/07*
I was reading in my bible today, and came across a few verses that ‘got the wheels turning,’ so to speak. The verses I came across were these:
“And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria… As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. ” -Acts 8:1a, 3-4
After reading this, I couldn’t help but think of the believers in Jerusalem as seeds. They were scattered all over the land, and began to reproduce.
Now, a bit of a disclaimer here - I am no horticulturist. My thumbs are definitely not green! However, I thought of an instance that parallels God’s “seeds” mentioned in the passage in Acts above; but not only that, but it is a parallel for our own lives as well. What I am referring to is something called “seed scarification.” Again, I am not a scientist, so if any of you notice any factual errors on this, please let me know. I vaguely remembered reading about scarification a few years ago, but most of this information below was paraphrased from this site: https://wiki.umn.edu/twiki/bin/view/FR_3104_5104/ScarifiCation
In nature, some trees and plants bear seeds that have a hard coating that is impervious to water and gas. This hard seed coat prevents the seed from germinating until the coating is cut or softened in some way.
Here’s where it gets good…
Apparently, one such way of breaking this seed coat is for the seed itself, (possibly contained within a fruit), to actually to be eaten by an animal - and come out the other end. Inside the animal, the seed is subjected to the acids of the digestive tract, which softens the coating. Also, seeds can be scarified mechanically when passing through a bird’s gizzard. (And come to think of it, there will be some great fertilizer along with the seed when it comes out!)
All of this eventually (hopefully) breaks the seed’s dormancy, and the tree can reproduce. But not only that, but when the seed is eaten by an animal, especially a bird, it can then be “scattered abroad” just like the believers at Jerusalem were. Instead of falling straight down to the earth, the seed is able to travel much farther on legs or wings.
So, in the midst of trials or hardship or persecution, think of yourself as one of God’s seeds. Have you ever felt like someone or something has gobbled you up? It may be God working through these events to bring forth fruit - for His glory. (And notice that it was not GOD who persecuted His people, but rather that He allowed it for the furtherance of His own kingdom.)
If seeds could talk, what would they say when they are eaten up by an animal?
“NO! What will become of me!? ”
“How will I ever become a tree in this place?”
“How could anything good ever come of this?”
I can’t explain it, but God can use bad situations for good things. He has His own reasons, and ways, and purposes - to bring you out of your dormancy, and bloom you into the work that He has destined for you to fulfill.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ” -Isaiah 55:8-11
I hope that God gives you peace from this message. Whatever struggle that you may be facing, I hope that God brings you His peace. Amen.
