*Wheat 2

John 12:24

Very truly, I tell you,

unless a grain of  wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains just a single grain;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

The last phrase helps perspective since we may not be keen about talking about dying. The metaphor is that we leave our old lives behind (die), plant our love in the fertile ground of those around us, and bear baskets of fruit.   
    If it didn’t rain in ancient Israel, the wheat crop failed and caused famines, the most famous of which sent Jacob and his family to Egypt, ultimately resulting in bondage, setting the stage for the Exodus. Egypt was famous for its wheat, an inexhaustible granary and was prized from Israel to Rome, back to the days of the Empire. Even today Arabia imports all its wheat from Egypt. Recorded from the earliest of times, its origin is not known. Grains of wheat have been found in Egyptian tombs, in prehistoric lake dwellings in Switzerland and was the chief grain in Jacob’s time (circa 1700 BC).

    How I looked forward to the wheat harvest after suffering through the “scratchiness” of the barley harvest. Mother said she could hear me upstairs from their bedroom below scratching my itchy ankles in bed.

    Wheat was less dusty. I  avoided the back end of the harvester because as it swept by a cloud of dust and chafe followed in its wake whatever the crop. I never understood how my three older brothers could take it all day “on the beast”. When we came in at evening, our faces were so black, a stranger might wonder what monsters we be.

    The highest “rank” I achieved during harvest was chief truck driver. That was alright with me since the pay was the same no matter what: room and board and 25c for Saturday night in town. That bought a comic book, admission to a movie and popcorn.

    The harvest to remember was in the ’50’s when the symbolism of 30-60-100 fold return (Matthew 13:8 p. 48) became a reality with an incredible yield of 60 bushels per acre. Up to then a return of 30+ was considered excellent.

    When the hopper on the harvester was full, my brothers would wave and I’d drive the truck over to dump the grain into the truckbox. Ordinarily a full trip around the field was required, so I’d fill the time by getting in some comic book reading.

    On this occasion, the harvester hadn’t gone a quarter of the way and my brother was waving. I didn’t know if he was waving for me or if he had trouble. I poked my head out of the truck cab to see if he was serious. He was! I couldn’t believe it. There was great celebrating at home that night for a new record had been set.

The photo was taken near Shoval, Israel during wheat harvest.