Crops need moisture. They need it
shortly after planting so that seeds can germinate and grow, and they
need it as they grow in order to produce a useable harvest.
Crops need moisture. People need
crops. But only God can provide the rain. We must rely on Him to provide
it. Long ago, Zechariah advised his people to "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."
(Zechariah 10:1)
In
Deuteronomy 11:13-14,
God promised the Israelites that He would send both the early and the
latter rain on their crops if they would obey His commandments. He said,
"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."
Many years later, after much
disobedience on the part of the Israelites, the Lord was still willing
to provide this blessing for His people if they would repent and turn to
Him with all their "heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with
mourning"
(Joel 2:12). If they would
repent they were told that they could "Be glad then, you children of
Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former
rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you- The
former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."
(Joel 2:23).
So then, God's willingness to provide
the early and the latter rain demonstrates His patience and
longsuffering with mankind. But it also teaches mankind a lesson about
trusting in the Lord to provide for us, and patiently waiting for Him to
do so. James
5:7-8 says, "Therefore be
patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer
waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it
until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
The blessings that we enjoy in Christ
today are the early rain. The greater blessings of the latter rain and
the fruitful harvest are yet to come. Be patient. Trust the Lord. Serve
Him faithfully day by day. Grow. Be productive. The clouds that will
bring that latter rain are building on the horizon. The coming of the
day of the Lord is at hand.
