Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical narrative, the concept of wickedness is frequently addressed, often drawing vivid comparisons to natural phenomena to illustrate the consequences of living in opposition to God's will. One such comparison is between wicked people and corn (grain) that has been blasted, a metaphor that underscores the ultimate futility and destruction that accompanies a life of wickedness.
Biblical Context and MeaningThe term "wicked" in the Bible refers to individuals who live in deliberate disobedience to God's commandments, often characterized by actions that are morally wrong, unjust, or evil. The wicked are frequently contrasted with the righteous, who seek to live in accordance with God's laws and principles.
The imagery of corn or grain being "blasted" is found in several passages of Scripture, where it symbolizes devastation and barrenness. In the agricultural context of the Bible, grain was a staple of life, essential for sustenance and prosperity. When grain is blasted—typically by harsh winds, scorching heat, or pestilence—it becomes withered and unproductive, unable to fulfill its intended purpose.
Scriptural IllustrationsOne pertinent passage is found in
Deuteronomy 28:22, where God warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience: "The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish." Here, the blasting of grain serves as a metaphor for the judgment that befalls those who turn away from God.
Similarly, in the book of Hosea, the prophet laments the spiritual state of Israel, comparing their unfaithfulness to a blasted harvest: "Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their womb" (
Hosea 9:16). This imagery highlights the inevitable ruin that comes from a life of wickedness, where potential and promise are cut short.
Theological ImplicationsThe comparison of wicked people to blasted grain serves as a powerful reminder of the transient and ultimately destructive nature of a life lived apart from God. Just as blasted grain fails to produce a harvest, so too do the wicked fail to yield the fruits of righteousness and peace. Their lives, though they may seem prosperous for a time, are ultimately marked by emptiness and judgment.
This metaphor also underscores the justice of God, who, in His holiness, cannot allow wickedness to go unpunished. The blasting of grain is not merely a natural consequence but a divine response to rebellion, emphasizing the seriousness with which God views sin.
ConclusionIn conclusion, the biblical comparison of wicked people to corn that has been blasted serves as a sobering illustration of the consequences of living in defiance of God's will. It calls believers to reflect on the importance of righteousness and the pursuit of a life that aligns with divine principles. Through this metaphor, Scripture communicates the urgent need for repentance and the embracing of a life that bears the enduring fruit of faithfulness and obedience to God.
Nave's Topical Index
2 Kings 19:26Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
Nave's Topical Index
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An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... Now therefore let all the wicked men be far from ... again, "Where there is no vision,
the people perish" (Proverbs ... which both the law and the gospel is compared. ...
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The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... Korah and his company are called the people of the Lord ... are those that indeed are
righteous when compared with others ... than are even the best works of the wicked. ...
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Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... 7:4). Yea, the hair of her head is compared to a ... its face towards the east, to keep
the people of God ... to show that the true church cannot be blasted or made ...
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Memoir of John Bunyan
... and unless also they left this wicked world behind ... to Bedford, where, aided by some
great people who favoured ... to fail.' In fact, while he compared himself with ...
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Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... Cor.4:18), is not worthy to be compared with a ... gate, and from the way thereto, hath
this wicked man turned ... devil can do, the souls of His people prove gracious ...
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Resources
What is ultimate reconciliation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is wisdom literature? | GotQuestions.orgIs annihilationism biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWicked: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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