In the world we live in today we seem to have forgotten the sovereignty of God. God is not just the God of the unseen world but also the God of the physical world. Science explains things to us with no mention of God. Think of the rain. We see meteorologists explaining complex weather systems to us. They explain where and when it will rain but the root cause of where and whether it rains is unknown.
You can go to the U.S. Geological Survey page on "What Causes Drought" and you will see that it defines drought but doesn't really tell you what causes it and why it eventually rains. Even the United Nations has no answer. According to their documents, "While it may be possible to indicate the immediate cause of a meteorological drought occurring in any particular location, it is often not possible to indicate the underlying cause."
I live in a farming community. Rain is essential to our crops. What does the Bible say about rain and who controls it? The prophet Amos records the words of God towards the nation of Israel. Israel was in rebellion. They had forgotten their first love - God. In Amos 4: 7 God tells them this:
“I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered."
In I Kings 17:1 we read that the prophet Elijah proclaimed a drought to King Ahab that would last three and a half years. This drought was punishment for Ahab's support of the prophets of Baal. It is clear that God's patience only goes so far. When a people are in rebellion and refuse to repent, they face consequences. In Deuteronomy 11: 13-17 Moses explains to the Israelites what will happen to those who are obedient and to those who are not.
"‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’ Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you."
Again in Isaiah 5: 6 (b) God says "I will also command the clouds
That they rain no rain on it.” Why? Because the House of Israel was in rebellion.
Don't misunderstand. Not all droughts in the Bible are God's judgement. The following scriptures speak to this: Genesis 12:10; Genesis 26:1; Ruth 1:1 and Acts 11:28. We can't just assume that when a drought happens it is God's punishment. God also promises protection to those who are faithful to Him during these times. You can read about these promises in Job 5:20 and 22; Psalm 33: 18-19; Psalm 37: 18-19 and Proverbs 10: 3.
In Zechariah 10:1 God says:
"Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone."
What would be the reason that God would withhold rain? As punishment for rebellion, but also to make us realize our dependency on Him. Our need for His grace. Zechariah tells us to 'ask' for rain thus acknowledging our dependence on God. (This verse is to be taken both literally -rain and spiritually- God's blessings.)
In Leviticus 26: 4 God tells us, "then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.", and yet in our modern world His graciousness and provision seems to be neither recognized nor appreciated by most.
In I Kings 18: 41, after Elijah destroyed the prophets of Baal, Elijah speaks to King Ahab,
"Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
At this point it had still not rained. Indeed, there was not a cloud in the sky, but through faith Elijah knew that the drought was over, that God's wrath was finished and that blessings would be poured down from the heavens.
In Genesis 41 we read the story of Joseph and how he told Pharaoh the meaning of his dream. Seven years of good harvests would come followed by seven years of famine. With this knowledge Egypt was able to store up grain for the coming drought and help feed the many surrounding nations. Where did this foreknowledge of abundance and famine come from? From God, who as Job 28: 26 (a) tells us, "made a law for the rain,".
In Matthew 5: 45 (b) our Lord says that God, "sends rain on the just and on the unjust." God's blessings fall on us many times whether we are obedient or not. Why? Because in the previous verse Jesus tells us to, "bless those who curse you". Just so, God shows us His blessings, even though we are not always obedient to Him. Our God is patient and longsuffering.
"And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth," Exodus 34: 6
So the next time you hear the sound of rain on your roof say a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord who provided it. And if, God forbid, you find yourself in the midst of a drought recognize the importance of returning to God in heartfelt repentance. The sound of abundance of rain, even if we can't see it just yet, is a wonderous blessing.
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