Planetwise prt 5

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Land: People and place in context

The old testament refers to land 2,000 times, and the New Testament 250

The Bible gives loads of instructions on how we are to treat the land, even how we are use the land for agricultural purposes. Read the books of Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy in the context of land and you get a whole new perspective. I have found these books terribly hard to read as most people have, but thinking about the land when reading them you do get alot of insight out of these books.

Questions
1. 'God wants us to put down roots wherever we are, even if it is not the place we have chosen, or even like'. How deep are your roots into your local community and environment? Using Jeremiah 29:4-7, think about how they could grow deeper.
In my local community I suppose my roots are not that deep, even though this is the community that I grew up in and went to primary school in. But both me and my husband have lived in this community in the same way that alot of Christians live on the earth that we are just passing through. I think that we need to do more community things like attending the school carnival, book sale, markets, and buying local produce (olive oil, etc)

2. How far is it right to speak of 'natural' disasters or farming crises as God's judgement upon our sinful behaviour?
In a collective sense, yes. But not on an individual basis or that a community who has been affected by say a flood or devastating fire were sinful and brought it upon themselves that is going too far. But it the way that the whole of humanity has treated and is treating the earth and our relationship with God.

3. In 2 Chronicles 7:12-14, what does God require of the people before he will 'heal' their land? How can we translate this message into today's context of climate of climate change and environmental uncertainty?
Humble themselves, pray, seek the Lords face and turn from their wicked ways. Stop being so selfish and self centred about being able to taken what ever we want whenever we want, pray constantly for guidance and environmental issues and seek the Lord through his word and through teaching at church and most importantly turning from the evil, wickedness of the world.