The Living Dirt

Because the ground is cracked, for there has been no rain in the land   Jeremiah 14:4

Cracked – We all know that the Bible establishes a strong connection between human beings and the earth.  According to Scripture, we come from the ground and we will return to the ground.  In fact, Adam is a variation of the word adama that means “dirt, ground or earth.”  Furthermore, Israel is a people of the land, both in its promise and fulfillment.  But now we come to Jeremiah.  Jeremiah laments over the sin of Israel.  He recognizes that their moral corruption has physical consequences.  The ground itself reflects the spiritual attitude of the people who occupy it.  In this verse, Jeremiah uses a very unusual word to describe what is happening.  That word is hathath.  But it doesn’t mean “cracked.”  It means “dismayed or terrified.”  You’ll find the same word in Deuteronomy 31:8 and Job 7:14.  We get the translation “cracked” or “parched” from the context.  Contextually, it’s correct, but it prevents us from seeing a deeper Biblical reality: we are all connected.

The Bible does not treat dirt as just one more thing to be used for our own ends.  Dirt is not just dirt.  It is God’s earth.  When we sin, we violate a lot more than just our own souls.  We affect the earth itself because the earth is the living representation of the God Who brought it into being.  So, Jeremiah uses a word that would usually be associated with human emotions to describe what is happening to the ground.  The ground itself is terrified and dismayed at the way the people live.  As a result, the ground withdraws its bounty.  The result is drought.  We are all connected.

The Bible presents Man as a participant in two realms.  The first is the realm of all created things.  Man is connected to all that God brought into being.  Therefore, Man’s actions affect everything else.  That is why sin terrifies the earth.  The second realm is unique to Man.  Man participates in the realm of cognizant spirits.  The Bible calls this a “living soul.”  You and I have responsibilities and privileges in both arenas.  Our actions have consequences in both arenas.  The reason is simple:  God owns it all.  It all belongs to Him and we exist only under His provision and delight.  We are lease-holders, not owners.

When you walk your piece of the earth today, will it welcome you or will it be terrified and dismayed?  We are all connected.