8:12 sowing . . . heavens. The blessings of God’s final renewal are expressed in agricultural terms appropriate to the covenant promise of land. Because old Israel’s life in the land is a type of New Israel’s life in Christ (Gen. 13:15 note), today Christians experience the blessings of God’s covenant renewal through Jesus (Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:25) and look forward to the total renewal of God’s covenant blessings in the new heavens and earth (Rev. 21:1–22:5).