These verses give us a delightful insight into a rural way of life which has a rhythm that those of us who live in towns and cities can totally miss. The life of a farmer is an interesting interplay between God’s provision and sheer hard work. God graciously causes the grass to grow, but there is then a huge amount of work involved in drying it out and making the hay. The grass and hay sustain the sheep and goats who will provide wool and milk to clothe and nourish the family. It’s a wonderful cycle of life, but nobody should have any illusions that it’s a quiet life. Farm work is massively demanding.

However far away we may live from a rural life, we all depend upon that relationship between God’s provision and human effort. The reasonably effortless process of purchasing our food, drink and clothes tends to obscure this, so it is good for us to remind ourselves of both facts.

Firstly, we need to give thanks for everything we buy, which, ultimately, has come from God’s hands. It is part of his creation, and although many manufacturing, transportational and organisational processes might have intervened between the original raw materials and our purchase, God is nevertheless the source.

Secondly, it is good for us to remember those who have been involved in the frequently very long process by which goods are brought to us. We should thank God for the farmers, fishermen, miners, manufacturers, transporters and retailers and all those who have worked with them to enable us to make our purchases. We are, unavoidably, intimately related to this whole process, so we need to pray that God is honoured and that justice is done to everyone involved in it.

Why is it important for us to be aware of the way in which our food, drink and resources are produced and brought to us?

Lord God, thank you for all those whose hard work enables me to shop with such ease. Amen